Activist slams NGT for ‘unfulfilled assurances’ after Bandhwari landfill fire, seeks probe by pollution control body

The Bandhwari landfill has seen repeated fires over the years, drawing the attention of the Supreme Court. | Photo credit: PTI

A major fire at the Bandhwari dumping ground last month has prompted a fresh complaint to the Haryana State Pollution Control Board. In her complaint dated July 1, environmental activist Vaishali Rana alleged that the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) had failed to comply with fire prevention commitments it had given to the National Green Tribunal last year.

Ms Rana, a petitioner in the NGT case related to solid waste management in Bandhwari, said the dump site – located in the ecologically fragile Aravalis – caught fire again on June 25 this year despite an affidavit by the MCG dated December 15, 2025, which claimed that “comprehensive fire-fighting and monitoring systems” were in place. The NGT noted these submissions in its December 2025 order.

According to the complaint, MCG told the NGT that it has deployed four portable methane detectors, two round-the-clock fire patrols in summer, four round-the-clock supervisors, 29 closed circuit television cameras (CCTV), lights on tall masts, infrared thermometers and fire extinguishers. She also cited excavating the hotspot with a backhoe, gradually cutting through the waste piles and compacting them to release the trapped methane.

“Yet the ground reality completely contradicts these assurances,” Ms Rana wrote to HSPCB member secretary. Eyewitnesses said the June 25 fire started around 6:00 a.m. and lasted until 1:00 p.m. Another fire in April 2026 allegedly lasted 50 hours, the complaint said. The landfill has experienced repeated fires over the years, attracting the attention of the Supreme Court.

Ms Rana said the repetition “strongly suggests either gross negligence, non-compliance, failure of monitoring systems or misrepresentation” of the state of the infrastructure. It asked the HSPCB to conduct a surprise inspection to verify the physical availability and operational condition of the facility promised to the MCG and to direct the corporation to produce CCTV footage of the site and firefighting operations for independent review.

The complaint seeks legal action, including environmental compensation and prosecution if violations or misrepresentations are found. It also calls for a joint inspection by the HSPCB, Central Pollution Control Board, Forest and Wildlife Departments to assess the damage to the Aravali ecosystem, wildlife corridors, air quality in nearby villages and document the daily production of methane in Bandhwari.

“Fire from the landfill is releasing toxic gases and particulates, impacting villages, residents, wildlife habitats and groundwater,” Ms. Rana said, urging the HSPCB to submit its findings to the NGT.

Repeated calls and messages to Joint Commissioner, Swachh Bharat Mission, MCG, Preetpal Singh seeking his response remained unanswered.

Published – 04 Jul 2026 0:00 IST