Green Light for Delhi: MCD Fast-Tracks Landfill Reclamation to 2026

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has expedited the timeline for completing biomining and land reclamation at the Okhla, Bhalswa, and Ghazipur landfills, moving the deadline from December 2028 to December 2026.

This decision came after a high-level review meeting on solid waste management, chaired by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, along with Urban Development Minister Ashish Sood, Mayor Sardar Raja Iqbal Singh, MCD Commissioner Ashwani Kumar, and other officials. Under Phase II, biomining operations have been ramped up, increasing the daily waste processing capacity from 25,000 tonnes to 30,000 tonnes as of July 2025.

Since December 2024, a new agency at Bhalswa landfill has processed 1.53 million tonnes of waste, targeting the completion of 4.5 million tonnes within 12–14 months—accelerating the timeline from the original 18 months. At Okhla, 1.05 million tonnes have been processed since December 18, 2024, and Ghazipur has processed 400,000 tonnes since operations began in April 2025. Both sites aim to complete biomining ahead of schedule.

For Phase III, MCD will appoint separate agencies for each landfill with no fixed quantity limits, ensuring swift processing of all remaining waste. The tendering process is expected to commence by the end of July.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.