New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has requested the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to provide a fresh disclosure detailing the exact quantity of waste currently accumulated at the Singhola dump site. The tribunal noted that the MCD’s previous submissions had omitted this crucial information.
Background of Singhola Site
The Singhola site, a 7.2-acre plot, was initially designated as a temporary dumping ground for drain silt following a partial collapse of the Ghazipur landfill in 2017. By July 2022, approximately 900,000 metric tonnes of silt had accumulated at the location. The waste was predominantly dumped by the MCD’s Shahdara North and Shahdara South zones, with contributions from the public works department and the irrigation and flood control department.
Although the MCD reported completing bio-mining and clearing the accumulated silt from Singhola last year, subsequent dumping has resumed. This has led to the emergence of new waste mounds, prompting the NGT’s suo motu (on its own) cognizance of the matter. A Hindustan Times report in November 2024 highlighted the appearance of these new waste mounds at Singhola and Narela, despite ongoing landfill remediation efforts in the city.
NGT’s Concerns and Directives
During a hearing on August 5, the NGT bench, headed by Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert member Afroz Ahmad, reviewed the MCD’s status report concerning the Narela-Bawana Integrated Municipal Solid Waste Processing Facility. The MCD informed the tribunal that no untreated municipal solid waste was presently at the Narela-Bawana site, with the accumulated material consisting solely of Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF).
The civic body stated that out of approximately 34,313 metric tonnes of legacy RDF retrieved from the Narela-Bawana landfill, 9,654.5 metric tonnes had been disposed of by March 2026. The remaining material is undergoing processing and phased disposal. The MCD also indicated that the contract for establishing a daily silt-processing facility at the Singhola site had been awarded, with operations expected to commence in November of the current year. The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has granted consent to operate this facility until June 15, 2029.
However, the tribunal specifically noted the omission of the quantity of waste or RDF currently accumulated at the Singhola site in the MCD’s affidavit. Consequently, the bench directed the MCD to file a fresh affidavit specifying this quantity and to submit an updated progress report at least one week before the next hearing, which is scheduled for October 14.
Waste Management Challenges in Delhi
Delhi faces persistent challenges in managing its ever-increasing volume of solid waste. The Singhola and Narela sites are among several locations that have become focal points for environmental concerns related to improper waste accumulation. Despite efforts like bio-mining and the development of processing facilities, the resumption of dumping due to operational urgencies, such as pre-monsoon desilting, highlights the complex nature of waste management in the capital.
The MCD’s admission that it had to resume dumping drain silt at the Singhola site due to the urgency of pre-monsoon desilting operations underscores the lack of dedicated silt processing facilities in the city. The civic body is reportedly establishing such a facility to mitigate the formation of new waste mounds in Outer Delhi. This situation raises questions about the adequacy of current infrastructure and the long-term strategies for sustainable waste management in the National Capital Region.
❤️ Support Independent Journalism
Your contribution keeps our reporting free, fearless, and accessible to everyone.
Or make a one-time donation
Secure via Razorpay • 12 monthly payments • Cancel anytime before next cycle
(We don't allow anyone to copy content. For Copyright or Use of Content related questions, visit here.)
The Chenab Times News Desk
