Astoli landfill to be ready in two months: Greater Noida authority

Advocate for the Noida authority, in a submission to the NGT, said the health dept should allowed to dump waste at Sector 138A dumping site till the Astoli landfill is ready for use

The Greater Noida authority on Wednesday said it will complete the work on a boundary wall around the 126-acre landfill site in Astoli in the next two months to make way for municipal solid waste disposal there without further delay.

The Noida and Greater Noida administrations have decided to treat solid waste at the landfill site in Astoli. (Sunil Ghosh/HT FILE)

Around 660 metric tonnes of municipal waste is generated every day in Noida and 200 metric tonnes in Greater Noida. Since the cities were carved out — Noida in 1976 and Greater Noida in 1992 — the waste is being dumped in vacant plots without being treated, thereby polluting the environment. The two cities have decided to treat solid waste at the landfill site in Astoli. But since the site is yet to be ready, garbage from the two cities is being thrown on roadsides and vacant land.

The National Green Tribunal on Tuesday refused to allow dumping of garbage on the vacant land in Sector 138A, which was being used as a temporary landfill, saying it was too close to located the human habitation in Sector 137.

“We have already finished 80% work on the boundary wall. The remaining work will be completed in the next two months. Once the boundary wall is constructed, Noida and Greater Noida can dump their waste there,” said Rajendra Bhati, senior manager of the Greater Noida authority.

According to officials, Noida and Greater Noida authorities have decided to make compost out of biodegradable waste and the remains will be sent to Astoli for further treatment.

The Noida authority is likely to select a private agency in a month or so to ensure that the biodegradable and construction waste is recycled in the city itself. “The remaining waste after compost is made will be transported to Astoli. We will soon select an agency for the job,” said RK Mishra, additional chief executive officer, Noida authority.

Read I NGT refuses to allow garbage dumping in Noida Sector 138A

Greater Noida authority chief executive officer Debasish Panda in a meeting on Tuesday directed the health department to identify three places in residential areas, where a compost making system can be set up.

“We will identify three sites in a week. Then, we will take two more months to select an agency that will make compost out of biodegradable waste,” Bhati said.

The landfill at the Astoli has missed multiple deadlines in the past. “This time, we will finish the work in two months,” Bhati said.