Shivam Rana

2014CE10381

Landfills Sites Delhi Population Perspective

The problem of overuse of landfills worsened by the population of capital city of Delhi. In
simple terms, the more the people more will be the garbage generated .A UN report has very
recently fanned the citys population concern, which is perhaps eating into the socio-
ecological balance of the capital city [1].Delhi has already doubled its population since 1990s
and already is worlds second most populous city in 2014.In India, the population density is
already very high when compared to other nations with a value of 382 (per square km.) but
Capital is a long way ahead which supports a whopping amount of 11,297 (per square km.).
So, it becomes somewhat clear how this problem is getting worse day by day.
Moreover, like many other large cities of developing nations, the co-existence of plush
localities and sprawling slum is not uncommon. These slums are the home for migrants from
rural areas working as domestic helps or daily labourers. As such there is no control over the
garbage generated from these areas and as the population mainly composed of illiterate
people, the expectation of proper disposal from these areas is implausible.
Even if the garbage is properly collected there seems to be no patented way of segregation of
garbage. The garbage always does not contain litter but some hazardous chemicals like paints
and electrical waste is also present. Now these may be small in quantity but they still have
adverse effects if not properly disposed. A simple process of segregation of waste can be
started from top of the chain i.e. our homes. There can be three dustbins which contain
biodegradable, recyclable and hazardous disposal. But then again the problem of population
comes into picture, how to teach this many people about garbage disposal?
Due to ever increasing population, the land available for landfills is almost negligible. The
current landfills are right now way past there working capacity but how to get new landfills
nearby when there is less and less area. While waste-to-energy-incinerators and landfills in
densely populated sites are clearly environmental and health hazards, alternative solutions
that have been debated have also so far failed to take off due to conflicting claims and
arguments between stakeholders. One such impasse is over a proposed landfill site at the
Asola Bhatti Mines on the southern edge of the Capital, which the Municipal Corporation of
Delhi claims will take care of the citys solid waste disposal needs for the next 25 years. The
Bhatti Mines issue has been before the courts first the Supreme Court and then Delhi High
Court for over a decade and a half now. Several sites identified earlier in places like Jaitpur
in South East Delhi and Bawana in North West Delhi had witnessed strong protests by locals
and villagers who did not want garbage dump facilities to come up in their surroundings [2].