Solution to lechate leakage at Bandhwari landfill soon

Gurugram: The perils of rising mounds of garbage – which continues to pile up without end – at Bandhwari landfill site again came to fore, after it was reported that lechate (a poisonous liquid substance emanating from the garbage) began to percolate outside.

Even though the problem was solved by taking temporary measures, the urgency of finding a long term solution was again raised by citizens of Gurugram.

After repeated complaints, there finally seems to be a permanent solution in sight to the challenge of toxic underground water table at Bandhwari and the areas around it, caused due to the presence of lechate at the 30 acre-landfill site.

To tackle this issue, a lechate treatment plant is expected to be set up near the landfill site.

At present, more than 1,000 tonne of garbage from Gurugram and Faridabad is discarded daily at the area, which is nestled in the green belt of Aravallis.

Based on the proposal, the plant will treat more than 100 kilolitres of lechate daily.

The plant will be set up the Chinese chemical major EcoGreen International, whichhas also been entrusted with the responsibility of recycling the waste in the area to generate power.

With the layout of the project almost ready, work may begin soon, claimed some public officials.

Commissioned in 2008, the Bandhwari landfill was created with the objective to segregate and recycle waste generated from Gurugram and Faridabad.

Set up at an estimated cost of Rs 300 crore, the aim was to operationalise a power plant and plastic recycling at the site.

After lying defunct for four years, the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) finally signed a memorandum of understanding with

EcoGreen to start the plant.

Even as MCG officials claim that work for restarting the plant is in full swing, more than 90 trucks from Gurugram and Faridabad still dump garbage daily. The delay in starting the project has resulted in many environmental activists blaming the civic body officials and their handlers in Chandigarh of being inept and corrupt.