Leaching leakage in Aravalli is increasing environmental crisis

Context

Recently, environmentalists and local residents have demanded the central government's intervention to stop the illegal discharge of leachate from the Bandhwari landfill site on the Gurugram-Faridabad road into the Aravalli Range. This leakage is not only causing a health crisis for local residents but also poses a serious threat to the Aravalli forests and wildlife.

What is Leachate ?

• Leachate is a liquid formed when rainwater or other liquids seep down through a landfill.
• This liquid dissolves various chemical, biological, and toxic substances, making it a highly polluting substance.

Major Components

• Heavy metals (such as lead, mercury, chromium)
• Organic matter and chemical compounds
• Ammonia and nitrates
• Pathogenic microorganisms (pathogens)
• Toxic chemicals from plastic and electronic waste

Sources

• Municipal solid waste dumping sites
• Industrial waste sites
• Electronic and medical waste
• Construction and demolition sites

Impacts

• Groundwater pollution: Leachate seeps into the soil, poisoning groundwater.
• Health risks: This can cause skin diseases, respiratory illnesses, and chronic diseases like cancer.
• Impact on wildlife: Leachate enters forest water sources, contaminating wildlife's drinking water.
• Deterioration of soil quality: This leads to barren agricultural land.

Environmental Concerns

• The Aravalli range is crucial for the environmental balance of Haryana and Rajasthan.
• Leachate leakage is threatening the Aravalli water bodies and biodiversity.
• NGT orders related to environmental protection are being ignored.
• Protection measures such as 'Garland Drains' by local authorities remain limited to paper only.
  • A garland drain` is a ditch or channel, often circular or "garland" in shape, installed around a property, mine, or other area to collect and divert surface water or runoff.

Way Forward

• Leachate Treatment Plants (LTPs) should be operational with immediate effect.
• The process of scientific disposal of legacy waste should be accelerated.
• Regular monitoring should be conducted by the NGT and the Ministry of Environment.
• Waste segregation at source should be made mandatory.
• A long-term conservation plan should be developed to protect the Aravalli ecosystem.

Conclusion

The leachate from the Bandhwari landfill is not just a local problem, but a sign of a national environmental crisis. Unless scientific waste disposal and monitoring systems are implemented, natural heritage sites like the Aravalli region will continue to be toxic.