Sunil Tani at 02:00, 14 March 2026

2026-03-14T02:00:20Z

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{{short description|Landfill in India}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2024}}{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}{{CS1 config|mode=cs2}}
[[File:Workers on top of Ghazipur landfill 2013.jpg|thumb|[[Waste picker]]s on top of Ghazipur landfill in 2013]]
The '''Ghazipur landfill ''' is a [[landfill]] established in 1984. It is located in [[Ghazipur, Delhi|Ghazipur]], a village in the [[East Delhi district|eastern district]] of [[Delhi]], [[India]].<ref>{{Citation | vauthors=((Frayer, L.)) | website=NPR | date=6 July 2019 | title=A Day's Work On Delhi's Mountain Of Trash | url=https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2019/07/06/738965440/a-days-work-on-delhi-s-mountain-of-trash | access-date=22 April 2024}}</ref>

The landfill covers an area of approximately {{convert|70|acres|ha}}<ref>{{Citation |title=Ghazipur garbage dump almost as tall as Qutub Minar: Story behind Delhi's largest landfill site |date=1 September 2018 |website=India Today |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/gk-current-affairs/story/ghazipur-garbage-dump-delhi-largest-landfill-site-1329240-2018-09-01 |access-date=22 April 2024}}</ref>, and according to the last count in 2019, is 65 metres (213 feet) in height<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-07-26 |title=Explained: How Ghazipur landfill’s height was reduced and if it can be permanently cleared |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/ghazipr-landfill-height-reduced-permanently-cleared-6522978/ |access-date=2025-11-26 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>. Ghazipur has become one of the largest landfills in Delhi. The landfill reached its maximum capacity in 2002; however, it continues to receive solid waste from the city of Delhi.<ref>{{Citation | vauthors=((Khan, M.)) | date=1 May 2023 | website=The Hindu | title=Waste processing at Ghazipur landfill yet to pick up pace | url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/waste-processing-at-ghazipur-landfill-yet-to-pick-up-pace/article66785760.ece | access-date=22 April 2024}}</ref>

Despite efforts to mitigate problems, long-term mismanagement at the landfill has created significant ongoing environmental, fire, and human health hazards, with the site emitting toxic gases, polluting groundwater, and creating an extreme fire hazard.<ref>{{Citation | vauthors=((Matharu, S.)) | date=9 January 2023 | title=Machines are digging, dragging, tearing into Delhi garbage mountains. Time's running out | website=The Print India | url=https://theprint.in/ground-reports/machines-are-digging-dragging-tearing-into-delhi-garbage-mountains-times-running-out/1809842/ | access-date=22 April 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Citation | vauthors=((Dhillon, A.)) | date=29 March 2022 | website=The Guardian | title=Toxic fumes fill Delhi's skies after vast landfill site catches fire | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/29/delhi-landfill-fire-toxic-fumes | access-date=22 April 2024}}</ref>

A major fire broke out at the landfill site on 21 April 2024; the fire rapidly spread, engulfing several areas of the landfill.<ref>{{Citation | date=22 April 2024 | title=Major fire erupts at Delhi's Ghazipur landfill site, smoke engulfs area | website=Hindustan Times |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-news/major-fire-erupts-at-delhis-ghazipur-landfill-site-fire-tenders-rush-to-spot-101713707438059.html | access-date=22 April 2024}}</ref> Toxic smoke from the fire has caused significant health and breathing problems.<ref>{{Citation | date=22 April 2024 | title=As Ghazipur residents complain of throat and breathing irritation, we ask experts about health risks associated with landfill fire smoke | website=The Indian Express | url=https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/life-style/ghazipur-landfill-fire-smoke-breathing-inhalation-toxic-9284285/ | access-date=22 April 2024}}</ref> The cause of the fire is undetermined.<ref>{{Citation | website=Times of India | date=22 April 2024 | title=Striking images of Delhi's Ghazipur landfill fire: Horrid past and present | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/striking-images-of-delhis-ghazipur-landfill-fire-horrid-past-and-present/photostory/109490385.cms | access-date=22 April 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Citation | website=India Times | date=22 April 2024 | title=Ghazipur landfill fire: Govt investigating why it happened, says AAP leader Atishi | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/ghazipur-landfill-fire-govt-investigating-why-it-happened-says-aap-leader-atishi/articleshow/109493397.cms | access-date=22 April 2024}}</ref> The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has requested a reply from the relevant authorities, such as the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), regarding the recent fire incident at the Ghazipur landfill site within a period of five weeks.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Service |first=Express News |date=2024-05-06 |title=NGT seeks authorities' reply on Ghazipur landfill blaze |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/delhi/2024/May/06/ngt-seeks-authorities-reply-on-ghazipur-landfill-blaze |access-date=2024-05-08 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

In response to the environmental and public health concerns, the [[Municipal Corporation of Delhi]] (MCD), under the supervision of the [[National Green Tribunal]] (NGT), has increased remediation work at the Ghazipur landfill.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=2025-09-20 |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 |access-date=2026-01-27 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=2025-07-11 |title=MCD updates NGT on Ghazipur landfill clean-up; Targets full reclamation by 2028 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/mcd-updates-ngt-on-ghazipur-landfill-clean-up-targets-full-reclamation-by-2028/articleshow/122389838.cms |access-date=2026-01-27 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> In July 2025, the MCD submitted a detailed compliance report to the NGT outlining measures to control pollution, manage [[leachate]], and address structural risks, including repairing surface cracks and installing perforated pipes to safely vent [[Methane|methane gas]].<ref name=":1" /> The report stated that approximately 85 lakh metric tonnes of waste remained at the site as of March 2025 and that full clearance was targeted for 2028.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> [[Biomining]] operations at Ghazipur have progressed into its second phase, with authorities reporting that substantial quantities of legacy waste have already been processed and additional waste-processing facilities are being planned to accelerate reclamation and reduce the height of the landfill mound.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Verma |first=Anup |date=2025-11-05 |title=Ghazipur landfill site to be fully cleared by 2027, MCD to set up 4 processing facilities: Panel chief |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/delhi/2025/Nov/05/ghazipur-landfill-site-to-be-fully-cleared-by-2027-mcd-to-set-up-4-processing-facilities-panel-chief |access-date=2026-01-27 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> As part of the longer-term redevelopment plans, the MCD has issued tenders for a new [[waste-to-energy plant]] at Ghazipur under a [[public–private partnership]] model to reduce reliance on open air dumping and convert a portion of municipal waste into energy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Service |first=Express News |date=2025-07-12 |title=Tenders out for waste-to-energy unit in Ghazipur |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/delhi/2025/Jul/12/tenders-out-for-waste-to-energy-unit-in-ghazipur |access-date=2026-01-27 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> Alongside waste removal, municipal authorities have stated that reclaimed landfill land is intended to be converted into green or forested zones through plantation drives, with similar initiatives at other Delhi dumpsites involving the planting of [[bamboo]] and other vegetation to stabilise soil conditions and improve environmental conditions.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-03-04 |title=54,000 Trees To Come Up On Reclaimed Part Of Landfill |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/54000-trees-to-come-up-on-reclaimed-part-of-landfill/articleshow/118716398.cms |access-date=2026-01-27 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Bhalswa landfill]]
* [[Mavallipura]]
* [[Waste management in India]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book | title=Circular Economy in Municipal Solid Waste Landfilling: Biomining & Leachate Treatment | url=https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-07785-2 | author=Kumar, S. | series=Radionuclides and Heavy Metals in the Environment | date=2023 | publisher=Springer | isbn=978-3-031-07785-2 |pages=55–57 | doi=10.1007/978-3-031-07785-2 }}

==External links==
* {{Citation | website=Reuters | date=22 April 2024 | title=In pictures: Delhi residents choke on landfill fire fumes | url=https://www.reuters.com/pictures/pictures-delhi-residents-choke-landfill-fire-fumes-2024-04-22/ | access-date=22 April 2024}}

{{Landfills in india}}
{{Pollution}}
{{India topics|state=collapsed}}
{{Social issues in India}}
{{Authority control}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ghazipur landfill}}
[[Category:East Delhi district]]
[[Category:Environmental issues in India]]
[[Category:Waste management in India]]
[[Category:Landfills in India]]

Ghazipur landfill - Revision history

Sunil Tani at 02:00, 14 March 2026