Leachate removed from Bandhwari, released at STPs in Gurugram

On Tuesday, HT reported that leachate was flowing into water bodies, and animals were drinking the polluted water

Updated on: May 13, 2023, 23:13:53 IST

By Leena Dhankhar

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The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) has started to remove leachate from the Bandhwari landfill and discharge it into the sewage treatment plants (STPs), according to officials. The move came after several complaints were received that the leachate had contaminated water bodies in the Aravalli forests, posing a serious threat to animal life, officials said.

Leachate being removed from a water body in Bandhwari on Saturday. (HT Photo)

MCG officials said that the legacy leachate at Bandhwari is being transported to the STPs in Behrampur and Dhanwapur, where two DTROs will be installed. “Both the STP plants together have the capacity to treat more than 400 MLD (million litres daily) of wastewater on a daily basis,’ said an MCG official associated with the matter.

On Tuesday, HT reported that leachate was flowing into water bodies, and animals were drinking the polluted water. On Saturday, tankers were seen removing leachate from the ponds and were sent to the Behrampur STP, which is 17.3 kilometres away.

“We are taking all possible measures to ensure leachate does not flow into the water pits in Aravallis,” said Naresh Kumar, joint commissioner MCG. “We have started transporting leachate in tankers to Behrampur, but it will take time to clear the site, and we want to empty the pond before the monsoons. Also, we have plans to construct a drainage system around the Bandhwari landfill to stop the leakage of leachate into the neighbouring water bodies and the protected Aravalli range.”

Officials said that at least four tankers are being used for clearing leachate ponds.

Neelam Ahluwalia, co-founder, Aravalli Bachao citizens movement, said, “Releasing leachate into STP should be part of the standard operating procedure. What is the rocket science in this? Officials of MCG and Ecogreen responsible for the gross negligence of letting the toxic leachate flow into the forest and poison the water bodies and underground water need to be jailed and penalised. Only then will it force them to do their work responsibly. More importantly, if wet food waste is composted or made into biogas at the level of the bulk waste generators and the wards, there will be no problem of leachate to deal with.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Leena Dhankhar
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest. Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents. Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure. Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing. Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity. Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations. Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling. A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.Read More