Gurugram, Haryana – A secondary waste dumping site in Khandsa, Sector 37, has once again become a source of significant concern for residents and environmental groups due to recurrent fires. The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram’s (MCG) facility has been ablaze multiple times, most recently on Wednesday night, leading to the release of toxic smoke and exacerbating air quality issues in the densely populated areas surrounding the site.
This latest incident follows closely on the heels of a major fire that took several days and hundreds of fire tenders to extinguish. Citizen collective Citizens For Clean Air Bharat has described the recurring blazes as a “failure of accountability” and pointed to a lack of civic preparedness in managing the hazardous waste disposal site.
Residents living near the Khandsa site have alleged that the fires are not accidental but are intentionally set. They claim that industrial waste is burned, then doused with water before being sold by weight, a practice that releases dangerous pollutants into the atmosphere. The continuous smoke emission from the burning waste causes respiratory problems for nearby residents, including children and the elderly. Many residents have reported a marked deterioration in their health since the fires began.
The Khandsa site serves as a secondary collection point where waste from across Gurugram is gathered before being transported to a treatment plant. However, the recurring fires suggest systemic issues in waste management and oversight. Reports indicate that waste, including that from factories, is brought to the site at night, and fires often start after midnight, making the situation particularly dire for those living in proximity.
The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram has faced criticism for its handling of the situation. Internal communications have reportedly shown a lack of decisive action despite prior reports of fires and their adverse effects. In November 2024, following media reports, a Joint Commissioner-I had issued a memo directing the Senior Sanitary Inspector to prohibit garbage burning and conduct inspections. However, the subsequent incidents suggest that these directives were not effectively implemented.
Environmentalists and resident welfare associations have voiced strong objections to the continuous neglect of the waste disposal site. They argue that the fires are a direct consequence of negligence and a lack of proactive waste management strategies. The fires at the Khandsa site have been a known issue since at least 2021, with multiple major fires occurring annually. This highlights a persistent problem that authorities have failed to adequately address over an extended period.
The toxic smoke emanating from the burning waste contains harmful gases, black carbon, dioxins, and furans, posing severe long-term health risks. The situation has drawn comparisons to other recent environmental incidents in Gurugram, including a significant blaze at the Bandhwari landfill and fires at other waste processing facilities, underscoring a broader crisis in the city’s waste management infrastructure and its impact on public health and the environment.
The recurring fires at the Khandsa waste dumping yard have become a grave concern, impacting the health and well-being of local residents and raising serious questions about the efficacy of waste management practices and regulatory oversight in Gurugram.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
