A city-based environmental organisation, Save Aravali Trust, has accused the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) of allowing illegal dumping and open burning of untreated waste from the Bandhwari landfill inside the protected Aravalli forest area. The trust alleges that the activity is causing severe groundwater contamination, air pollution, and long-term ecological damage.
According to the Trust, tonnes of untreated waste are being secretly transported from the Bandhwari site and set on fire in forest patches surrounding it. Members claim this is being done with the silent approval of civic officials, leading to the release of toxic leachate into the soil and nearby ponds contaminating groundwater sources and threatening both wildlife and human health.
“This is not just an environmental crime but a grave threat to human life,” said Kailash Bidhuri, a member of Save Aravali Trust. “Despite repeated complaints and photographic evidence, no action has been taken. MCG has ignored these violations for too long. We will now expose the truth publicly to ensure accountability.”
The Trust has filed a formal complaint with the Gurugram police commissioner, demanding criminal action against MCG officials allegedly involved in the violations. It has also accused the Bandhwari site contractors of operating without proper environmental safeguards. “Every time authorities promise inspections, dumping resumes after a few weeks,” said Jitender, another member. “Toxic leachate continues to flow through Aravalli slopes into ponds and groundwater.”
When approached, MCG officials said the matter will be investigated. “We have already initiated measures to control pollution,” said Ravinder Yadav, joint commissioner of MCG. “A ₹2-crore project for a boundary wall, stormwater drains, and view cutters along the Gurugram-Faridabad Road was started in July to reduce environmental and visual impact. A team will inspect the Bandhwari site on Monday.”
However, members of the Trust dismissed these assurances as superficial. “We don’t need walls or view cutters; we need accountability and an immediate end to forest poisoning,” Bidhuri said. The group has vowed to continue documenting violations until a criminal investigation is initiated.
Environmentalists have also expressed concern, warning that the dumping and burning of waste threaten the ecological balance of the Aravalli range known as the green lung of the National Capital Region. “The Aravallis recharge groundwater and act as a barrier against desertification,” said environmentalist Jitender. “Burning waste here releases toxins into the air and soil, which can cause long-term respiratory illnesses and contaminate water sources.”
Satellite and drone footage shared by activists reportedly show charred patches and smoke plumes rising from forested areas near Bandhwari, suggesting ongoing illegal activity despite MCG’s claims. “The visuals don’t lie the forest is burning again,” said Vaishali Rana, a Gurugram-based environmentalist. “Toxic gases from these fires spread leachate deeper into the soil, destroying the fragile Aravalli ecosystem.”
The allegations come even after multiple National Green Tribunal (NGT) directives to curb illegal dumping and enforce strict monitoring at Bandhwari. Activists say little has changed on the ground and that civic bodies continue to overlook violations. Experts argue that the new evidence, including satellite imagery, should prompt immediate criminal action against those responsible for one of the region’s most serious environmental breach