DDA begins acquisition of two new landfill sites

A new garbage dumping ground for the Capital, an issue hanging fire since 13 years, is soon set to become a reality. Harish V Nair reports.

A new garbage dumping ground for the Capital, an issue hanging fire since 13 years, is soon set to become a reality.

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The Delhi Development Authority (DDA), after being repeatedly pulled up for its failure to locate land, on Friday told the Delhi High Court that it has begun the process of acquiring two sprawling land spaces at Hamirpur and Bakhtawar to be used as landfill sites.

The DDA has offered eight other sites­, which include a 60-acre plot near Okhla SLF, 450-acres in Bhati Mines, 30-acres in Tajpur Jaitpur Pahari, 150-acres in Ghitorni and 100-acres in Mandi village (for South Delhi Municipal Corporation) to be used as landfills. For North civic body, the sites identified are 100-acres in Sultanpur Dabas, 150-acres in Pooth Khurd, 27.5-acres near Hamidpur village behind APMC compost plant, 42.5-acres near Palla village on Bakhtawar Pur Road and 62.5-acres between Palla and Haryana border.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi had earlier complained to the court that the DDA had not allotted them new sites despite an order by the Supreme Court.

“The issue acquired urgency as the present dumping sites at Bhalaswa, Ghazipur and Okhla were overflowing and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee had suggested banning of dumping at these sites,” Sumeet Pushkarna, the lawyer for South Delhi civic body said.

Justice GS Sistani has asked civic agencies to place all matters relating to the issue before a court-appointed committee and take a decision regarding finding new dumping sites.