Delhi Reclaims 100 Acres Across Okhla, Bhalswa and Ghazipur Landfills
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has announced that the government has reclaimed approximately 100 acres of land across the Okhla, Bhalswa and Ghazipur landfill sites by implementing scientific measures to address the Capital's legacy waste crisis.
According to the Chief Minister, extensive biomining and waste processing efforts have cleared major portions of all three landfill mounds. At the Bhalswa landfill, 102 lakh metric tonnes of waste have been processed, resulting in the reclamation of approximately 45 acres of land. At the Okhla site, 70 lakh metric tonnes of legacy waste have been processed to reclaim around 35 acres, while at Ghazipur, 44 lakh metric tonnes have been processed, freeing up nearly 20 acres.
The inert material extracted during the waste processing operations is being repurposed for road construction and for filling low-lying areas across the region. Ms. Gupta noted that clearing the massive garbage mounds has improved living conditions for nearby residents and contributed to an increase in property rates in surrounding neighbourhoods.
To manage fresh municipal solid waste and prevent mounds from accumulating again, the Delhi government is in the process of introducing four new waste-to-energy plants. These facilities are intended to ensure that newly generated municipal waste is processed immediately.
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has established specific timelines to clear the landfill sites completely. Delhi Mayor Pravesh Wahi previously announced that the Okhla and Bhalswa landfills are targeted for complete clearance by December 2026, while the Ghazipur landfill is scheduled to be cleared by the end of 2027.
In addition to the sanitation updates, the Chief Minister announced a series of civic and infrastructure works to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday on September 17, focusing on water and sewerage networks, traffic management, education, power supply and general civic amenities across Delhi.
