## Policy Summary: Relocation of Ghazipur Landfill
This document summarizes the Indian government's response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1355 regarding the Ghazipur landfill site in the National Capital Region, Delhi, as of July 28, 2025.
**Key Concerns:** The question addresses concerns about the Ghazipur landfill, identified as a significant waste dumping ground, and seeks information on government actions to address the issue.
**Ghazipur Landfill Status:** The Ghazipur dumpsite, operational since 1984 and spread over 70 acres, contained 140 Lakh Metric Tonnes of solid waste in 2019. As of the present date, approximately 82 Lakh Metric Tonnes of solid waste remains at the site undergoing biomining and bioremediation operations initiated in 2019.
**Government Actions and Mandates:** The Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, mandate local bodies to assess and implement biomining and bioremediation for old and operational dumpsites. Where biomining/bioremediation is not feasible, scientific capping of the landfill is required to prevent environmental damage. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) issued guidelines for legacy waste disposal in 2019.
**CPCB Directives:** On January 27, 2021, the CPCB issued directives under Section 5 of the Environment Protection Act, 1986, to all State Pollution Control Boards/Pollution Control Committees (SPCBs/PCCs) to enforce the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, regarding biomining of legacy waste. The question regarding the shifting of Ghazipur landfill and Ghazipur Poultry Market to another place was not explicitly answered.
Key Entities Referenced
Ghazipur Landfill: A landfill site located in the National Capital Region Delhi, identified as a large dumping ground.
National Capital Region Delhi: The region where the Ghazipur landfill is located.
Ministry of Jal Shakti: A government ministry involved in the committee formed to address the Ghazipur Landfill issue.
Central Pollution Control Board: An organization coordinating with the government and the Ministry of Jal Shakti on the Ghazipur Landfill issue and issuing relevant orders and guidelines.
SHRI LAXMIKANT PAPPU NISHAD: The individual who raised the unstarred question in Lok Sabha regarding the relocation of the Ghazipur Landfill.
SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH: Minister of State in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change who provided the answer to the Lok Sabha question.
Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016: Rules mandating local bodies to investigate and analyze dumpsites for biomining and bioremediation potential.
Environment Protection Act, 1986: Act under which the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) issued directions regarding biomining of legacy waste.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1355
TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.07.2025
Relocation of Ghazipur Landfill
1355. SHRI LAXMIKANT PAPPU NISHAD:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) whether the Ghazipur landfill site located in the National Capital Region Delhi is the
largest dumping ground in Asia and if so, the reasons therefor;
(b) whether any Committee has been formed on this subject by the Government in
coordination with the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Central Pollution Control Board
and if so, the details thereof;
(c) the timeline decided by the said Committee to remove all the dumped waste from the
site; and
(d) whether the Central Pollution Control Board issued an order to shift the Ghazipur
landfill and Ghazipur Poultry Market to some other place and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a): As per information provided by Municipal Corporation of Delhi, the Ghazipur dumpsite
is operating since 1984 and is spread over an area of 70 Acres. The volume of solid waste in
2019 was 140 Lakh Metric Tonnes. The biomining / bioremediation operations for legacy
waste present at the dumpsite started in 2019. At present, around 82 Lakh MT of solid waste is
present at dumpsite.
(b) to (d): The Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, mandate local bodies to investigate
and analyse all old open dumpsites and existing operational dumpsites for their potential of
bio-mining and bio-remediation and wheresoever feasible, take necessary actions to bio-mine
or bio-remediate the sites. Further, in absence of the potential of bio-mining and bio-
remediation of dumpsite, it shall be scientifically capped as per landfill capping norms to
prevent further damage to the environment. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) had
issued guidelines for disposal of legacy waste in 2019. CPCB had also issued direction under
Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 on 27.1.2021 to all SPCBs/PCCs for
enforcement of provisions of SWM Rules, 2016 regarding bio mining of legacy waste.
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