https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Bhalswa_landfillBhalswa landfill - Revision history2026-07-31T22:20:25ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Bhalswa_landfill&diff=490788&oldid=prevMariskaFeari3794 at 20:45, 24 February 20262026-02-24T20:45:14Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{short description|Landfill in India}}<br />
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'''Bhalswa landfill''' is an overfilled [[landfill waste dumping site]] in [[Delhi]], [[India]]; it is over {{convert|60|m|ft}} high. The site opened in 1994 and was declared overfilled in 2006, but remains in use, receiving more than 2,300 tons dumped daily in 2021.<ref name="delhidilemma">{{cite web |last1=Brown |first1=William |title=Delhi's dilemma: What to do with its tonnes of waste? |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/2016/11/29/delhis-dilemma-what-to-do-with-its-tonnes-of-waste |website=Al Jazeera |access-date=6 June 2024 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="cleanworld">{{cite news |last1=Ghosal |first1=Aniruddha |title=Vital to a clean world, scavengers left to plead for vaccine |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/other-articles-clipping-mar-31-2021-4526240/ |access-date=15 June 2024 |work=The Frederick News Post |agency=AP |date=31 March 2021}}</ref> In 2022, the heap measured over 62 meters (203 feet).<ref name="cnnlandfill">{{cite web |last1=Goel |first1=Vedika Sud, Rhea Mogul, Rishabh Pratap, Arpit |title=A trash heap 62 meters high shows the scale of India's climate challenge |url=https://cnn.com/2022/12/10/india/india-bhalswa-landfill-pollution-climate-intl-hnk-dst/index.html |website=CNN |language=en |date=11 December 2022}}</ref><br />
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The [[Municipal Corporation of Delhi]] (MCD) has set a target to completely flatten and clear the Bhalswa site by December 2026 as part of its broader plan to eliminate Delhi's major landfills, alongside [[Okhla landfill|Okhla]] and [[Ghazipur landfill|Ghazipur]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=MCD seeks proposals for reuse of reclaimed landfill sites|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/mcd-seeks-proposals-for-reuse-of-reclaimed-landfill-sites/articleshow/124005182.cms|work=The Times of India|date=2025-09-20|access-date=2026-02-01|issn=0971-8257}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=MCD's Biggest 2026 Challenge: Flattening Of 2 Of Its 3 Landfills|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/mcds-biggest-2026-challenge-flattening-of-2-of-its-3-landfills/articleshow/126293831.cms|work=The Times of India|date=2026-01-02|access-date=2026-02-01|issn=0971-8257}}</ref> Recent [[biomining]] operations at Bhalswa have been described as "rapid transformation" with the site's daily processing capacity increasing significantly as part of efforts to reclaim the land from the accumulated solid waste.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bhalswa Landfill: Speedy Bio-Mining Advances Towards Landmark Transformation {{!}} Science-Environment|url=https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/science-environment/3766971-bhalswa-landfill-speedy-bio-mining-advances-towards-landmark-transformation|website=Devdiscourse|access-date=2026-02-01|language=en}}</ref> In addition to clearing legacy waste, the site has been designated as an emerging pollution hotspot, prompting intensified dust control and monitoring directives from city authorities to address environmental impacts.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sood flags Bhalswa as emerging pollution hot spot, orders urgent dust control|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-news/sood-flags-bhalswa-as-emerging-pollution-hot-spot-orders-urgent-dust-control-101763058369019.html|website=Hindustan Times|date=2025-11-14|access-date=2026-02-01|language=en}}</ref> The MCD has also invited proposals for the future use of land reclaimed from Bhalswa and other landfill sites, including potential development of parks, gaming zones, and other public or commercial facilities once remediation is complete.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Gaming zones, parks: What MCD plans to do after legacy landfill sites are cleared in Delhi|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/gaming-zones-parks-what-mcd-plans-to-do-after-legacy-landfill-sites-are-cleared-in-delhi-10273857/|website=The Indian Express|date=2025-09-27|access-date=2026-02-01|language=en}}</ref> The Delhi government and the MCD are also considering developing a new [[Inter-State Bus Terminals|Inter-State Bus Terminus]] (ISBT) on reclaimed land at the Bhalswa landfill. A feasibility study is being prepared to assess the proposal, which aims to reduce congestion at the [[Maharana Pratap Inter State Bus Terminus|Kashmiri Gate ISBT]] and improve inter-state bus operations.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-02-02 |title=Delhi govt, MCD look into ISBT at reclaimed Bhalswa landfill site |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-news/delhi-govt-mcd-look-into-isbt-at-reclaimed-bhalswa-landfill-site-101769971272853.html |access-date=2026-02-03 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref><br />
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==Impact==<br />
The site is a major source of environmental pollution, fire hazards, and public health and safety issues.<ref>{{Citation |author=Mistry, J. |author2=Thomas, A. |author3=Patel, R. |author4=Derhgawen, S. | year=2022 | title=Bachaikari of Bhalswa: Narratives of Waste Pickers from a Delhi Landfill | url=https://thewire.in/rights/bachaikari-of-bhalswa-narratives-of-waste-pickers-from-delhis-bhalswa-landfill |website=The Wire India | access-date=12 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |author=Kapoor, C. | year=2022 | title=India's Mountains of Biomedical Waste |website= Global Health NOW | url=https://globalhealthnow.org/2022-12/indias-mountains-biomedical-waste | access-date=12 December 2022}}</ref><ref name="methane">{{cite news |title=Satellite data finds landfills are methane 'super emitters' |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/other-articles-clipping-aug-11-2022-4526243/ |access-date=15 June 2024 |work=Traverse City Record Eagle |agency=AP |date=11 August 2022 |language=en}}</ref> A 2022 study of groundwater surrounding the nearby Bhalswa Lake found none of the water was fit for consumption.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Dagar |first1=Sumit |last2=S.K. |first2=Singh |last3=Shan |first3=Vandana |title=Physicochemical Analysis of Groundwater Quality in the Vicinity of Bhalswa Lake in North West Delhi, India |journal=Journal of Engineering Research |date=15 March 2022 |doi=10.36909/jer.ICAPIE.15051|doi-access=free }}</ref> [[Narendra Modi|Prime Minister Modi]] has included removal of landfills in India's [[Swachh Bharat Mission|Clean India Mission]].<ref name="cnnlandfill"/><br />
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==See also==<br />
* [[Ghazipur landfill]]<br />
* [[Mavallipura]]<br />
* [[Waste management in India]]<br />
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==References==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
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==Further reading==<br />
;Journals<br />
* Chhibber, B. (2015). [https://www.jstor.org/stable/48505234 Challenges And Policy Responses To Hazardous Waste Management]. ''World Affairs: The Journal of International Issues'', '''19'''(2), 86–99. <br />
* Schindler, S., Demaria, F., & Pandit, S. B. (2012). [http://www.jstor.org/stable/41720261 Delhi's Waste Conflict]. ''Economic and Political Weekly'', '''47'''(42), 18–21. <br />
;News<br />
* {{Citation |author=Bali, A. N. | year=2022 | title=People living near Bhalswa landfill wait for clean streets to walk | work=The Sunday Guardian Live | url=https://www.sundayguardianlive.com/news/people-living-near-bhalswa-landfill-wait-clean-streets-walk | access-date=12 December 2022}}<br />
* {{Citation |author=Harigovind, A. | year=2022 | title=Express Investigation: In groundwater near a Delhi landfill, heavy metals like lead and cadmium | url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/express-investigation-in-groundwater-near-a-delhi-landfill-heavy-metals-like-lead-and-cadmium-8186569/ | access-date=12 December 2022}}<br />
* {{Citation |author=Now I, M. | year=2022 | title=Delhi: Massive fire breaks out in Bhalswa landfill; locals report breathing problem | url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/delhi-massive-fire-breaks-out-in-bhalswa-landfill-locals-report-breathing-problem/videoshow/91116463.cms | access-date=12 December 2022}}<br />
* {{Citation |author=Tewari, S. | year=2022 | title=Bhalswa landfill: a scar on residents' lives | work=The Hindu | url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/bhalswa-landfill-a-scar-on-residents-lives/article65510563.ece | access-date=12 December 2022}}<br />
* {{Citation |author=Tewari, S. | year=2022 | title=Landfill shatters hopes of Bhalswa's men to find brides | work=The Hindu | url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/how-the-landfill-has-shattered-hopes-of-bhalswas-men-to-find-brides/article65679385.ece | access-date=12 December 2022}}<br />
* {{Citation |author=Tiwari, A. | date=May 5, 2022 | title=In Pics: Residents Continue To Gasp For Clean Air As Bhalswa Landfill Site Remains On Fire |website=India Times | url=https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/delhi-bhalswa-landfill-site-still-on-fire-photos-568827.html | access-date=23 December 2022}}<br />
* {{Citation | year=2022 | title=9 days on, Delhi's Bhalswa landfill still on fire, DFS says longest operation yet | url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/9-days-on-delhis-bhalswa-landfill-still-on-fire-dfs-says-longest-operation-yet-7901842/ | access-date=12 December 2022}}<br />
* {{Citation | year=2022 | title=Bhalswa Landfill Symbolises BJP's "Mountain Of Failure" | url=https://www.outlookindia.com/national/bhalswa-landfill-symbolises-bjp-s-mountain-of-failure-click-a-selfie-as-it-will-soon-disappear-manish-sisodia-tells-people-news-240558 | access-date=12 December 2022}}<br />
* {{Citation | year=2022 | title=Delhi: Bhalswa fire releases toxic chemicals; locals demand landfill removal | url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/delhi-bhalswa-fire-releases-toxic-chemicals-locals-demand-landfill-removal-11654311866396.html |website=Live Mint | access-date=23 December 2022}}<br />
;Video<br />
* {{Citation | year=2022 |website=CNN | title=Video: 15-stories-tall trash heap shows scale of India's waste crisis | url=https://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2022/12/09/india-bhalswa-landfill-pollution-climate-contd-intl-ldn-vpx.cnn | access-date=23 December 2022}}<br />
* {{Citation |website=The Wire |date=November 16, 2022 | title=Bachaikari of Bhalswa: Narratives of Waste Pickers from a Delhi Landfill | url=https://thewire.in/rights/bachaikari-of-bhalswa-narratives-of-waste-pickers-from-delhis-bhalswa-landfill | access-date=23 December 2022}}<br />
* {{Citation |website=NBC News |date=December 22, 2022 | title=Fire shrouds huge New Delhi landfill in smoke | url=https://www.nbcnews.com/video/fire-burns-at-bhalswa-landfill-in-new-delhi-india-138723909716 | access-date=23 December 2022}}<br />
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==External links==<br />
* S. Goswami and S. Basak. (May 27, 2021). [https://wri-india.org/blog/living-near-urban-landfills-india Living Near Urban Landfills in India].<br />
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[[Category:Environmental issues in India]]<br />
[[Category:Waste management in India]]<br />
[[Category:Landfills in India]]<br />
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