SDMC cuts size of new landfill site planned in Okhla

NEW DELHI: To speed up setting up of an engineered landfill site at Tehkhand near Okhla, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) has decided to cut the size of the project from the planned 27.34 acres to 24 acres, officials aware of the matter said.

They said that 7.34 acres of land identified for the project was deemed forest for which the civic body could not get the environment ministry’s approval.

Now, it has been decided that instead of waiting for an approval, the civic body will drop the deemed forest land, and add 4 acres from another nearby land parcel, the officials said.

The SDMC standing committee approved the plan modifications and cleared the proposal for setting up the landfill site, the fourth in Delhi, on Tuesday. According to the revised plan, the engineered landfill will come up at a cost of ₹53.89 crore.

“In one of the review meetings of DEMS (department of environment management services) by the municipal commissioner, it has been decided that the area of deemed forest, which is approximately 7.3 acres and which was included in the initial proposal, will not be considered because it may take time for cutting of trees,” said the proposal cleared by the SDMC standing committee.

A senior municipal official overseeing the project stated that the green area has been de-linked from the engineered landfill project site to avoid further delays.

“We will keep pursuing the environment ministry to obtain the clearance and necessary permissions for 7.3 acre land,” the official stated.

A senior official from DEMS department said that the new engineered landfill will have a life span of 12 years, and it will be made operational in 18 months.

An engineered landfill will follow scientific systems for storing waste and have measures to prevent leachate from polluting groundwater.

Landfills in the national capital are currently open dumping grounds and does not have specific systems to avoid leachate or follow other scientific methods of waste management.

Standing committee chairman Col (retd) BK Oberoi said, “...we will not face solid waste disposal related problems at the landfill.” the

SDMC HAS DECIDED TO ADD 4 ACRES OF NEARBY LAND ‘TO INCREASE THE LIFE OF THE LANDFILL’