Gurugram awards contract to controversial landfill management firm

The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) has given a new contract to Aadarsh Bharat, a waste management agency that has struggled to meet deadlines at the Bandhwari landfill. The new project is worth ₹90.1 crore and aims to process 1.4 million metric tonnes of waste. This decision has upset local residents and environmental activists. Aadarsh Bharat was initially tasked with treating 0.2 million metric tonnes of waste in January 2024. However, they failed to finish the job on time and requested an extension, citing various problems such as heavy rain and traffic issues. Despite these delays, MCG has now awarded them a significant new contract. Critics argue that other, more capable agencies should have received this work instead. Activist Vaishali Rana questioned MCG’s decision, claiming it reflects poor management and possible corruption. She highlighted the ongoing waste crisis in Gurugram and criticized the corporation for rewarding firms that do not deliver results. MCG is currently requiring Aadarsh Bharat to explain their earlier delays, asking for evidence such as weather reports and incident logs. The new waste treatment project has been split between two contractors. One will handle 0.9 million metric tonnes, while the other will process 0.5 million metric tonnes. MCG officials say they have mobilized machines for the work, and the project timeline is tight, with just four months to complete operations. Despite these assurances, many remain skeptical. Critics fear that without strict oversight, the new contracts may lead to further delays in managing waste at the landfill. The National Green Tribunal has previously criticized MCG for its slow approach to handling waste issues at Bandhwari, which receives about 2,200 tonnes of waste daily from nearby areas. Aadarsh Bharat has stated that they did complete some of their previous work, but the overall dissatisfaction from the community continues.