The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) has begun a controversial project to transport nearly 600 metric tonnes (MT) of the city’s daily garbage to a waste-to-energy (WtE) plant in Sonipat, located about 80-100 km away. The ₹9-crore, seven-month plan aims to manage waste while operations remain stalled at the local Bandhwari landfill.
Objections Raised by Critics
The move has drawn sharp criticism from residents, environmentalists, and political leaders who argue it is environmentally, financially, and ethically flawed. Critics point out that unsegregated garbage is being sent for mass incineration, which is both polluting and short-sighted.
Political Opposition
Congress district president Vardhan Yadav called the plan a reflection of “misplaced priorities,” stating that Gurugram is simply “shifting its mess elsewhere” instead of finding a scientific solution for the garbage mountain at Bandhwari.
Former minister Captain Ajay Singh Yadav labeled the project a “betrayal of public trust,” criticizing the administration’s failure to implement decentralized, local waste management solutions and instead opting for an expensive “export” model.
Environmental Concerns
Ruchika Sethi Takkar, founder of Citizens for Clean Air, condemned the approach as “harmful and unsustainable.” She advocated for local, less polluting infrastructure like biogas plants and composting centers instead of long-distance transport and mass incineration.
NB Nair, a retired BARC scientist, warned that transporting mixed waste over long distances increases diesel emissions and the risk of accidents, arguing that the plan “merely shifts the problem” and is a temporary “stopgap, not a solution.”
MCG’s Defense
In response to the backlash, MCG commissioner Pradeep Dahiya defended the decision as a temporary measure. He stated that the plan is an interim solution until “legacy waste at Bandhwari is remediated and local processing facilities are strengthened.” He added that penalties for spillage, illegal dumping, or open burning have been included in the tender for the GPS-enabled trucks.