Bhalaswa landfill site to be covered in green membrane: NDMC

Garbage dumping at Bhalaswa landfill site, which falls under the jurisdiction of the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC), would be stopped in the coming years and the area would be covered with green membrane, a top official of the civic body said.
NDMC generates 4,000 metric tonne garbage every day and the figure is likely to go up to 7,500 metric tonne by 2021. Besides Bhalaswa, the civic body also dumps its garbage at Narela-Bawana landfill site.
"Garbage dumping at Bhalaswa has been brought down from 3,000 metric tonne per day to 2,000 metric tonne now. Efforts are being made to shift further 500 metric tonne from Bhalaswa to Narela-Bawana," NDMC Commissioner Madhup Vyas told reporters today.

A nine-member scientific advisory committee, headed by Prof Manoj Datta of IIT Delhi, has been formed by the Department of Science and Technology which would advise about ways to maintain the landfill and ultimately close it down, he said.
"A detailed project report will be prepared for scientific management of the landfill and tenders will be issued for the purpose," Vyas said.
The panel would give suggestions on trapping and flaring of gases like methane, treatment of leachate (drained liquid from garbage and, groundwater and ambient air monitoring.

"We will work towards complete closure of Bhalaswa, after which it will be covered with a nine layered green membrane," he said.

Spread over 40 acres, Bhalaswa landfill site had exhausted its lifespan in 2006. Rising over 50 metres, beyond the permissible height of 20 metres, it is visible from far away.
The landfill site is often in news due to fire caused by gases emitting from the garbage and frequent protests over air and water pollution caused by it.