NHRC calls for reports from the Centre, Delhi Government and CPCB on reported highly contaminated groundwater near four landfill sites in the National Capital

New Delhi, 12th May, 2022

The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, India has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that groundwater is getting contaminated dangerously near the landfill sites Bhalswa, Ghazipur and Okhla and the engineered sanitary landfill at Bawana in Delhi.

Considering the reported ground water contamination a major threat to the health and environment, it has issued notices to the Secretary, Union Jal Shakti Ministry, Chief Secretary, Delhi Government and Chairman, Central Pollution Control Board, CPCB, calling for detailed reports in six weeks. It should include the steps being taken or proposed to be taken to deal with the problem.

According to the media report, carried on 9th May, 2022, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee had collected samples from several sites near each landfill site in 2021, which were found to be highly contaminated far beyond the desirable limit.

The experts have reportedly opined that the consumption of water with a high TDS level for longer periods could be harmful for human health. Reportedly, the primary source of contamination in the groundwater is un-segregated waste being dumped at the landfill sites where the waste is reportedly leaching into the soil.

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