Delhi Civic Body Seeks Land for New Waste Processing Plants as Landfills Near Capacity

According to a report by PTI published on October 29, 2026, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has sought land from the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) to establish four new waste-processing plants. This move comes as the civic body faces ongoing challenges in managing the capital's daily municipal waste output.

Delhi generates approximately 13,500 tonnes of municipal garbage every day. Out of this total, the MCD currently processes around 57 per cent. The remaining 43 per cent—amounting to roughly 5,800 tonnes of untreated waste—continues to accumulate at the city's already saturated landfill sites.

Proposed Locations and Strategy

An MCD official stated that the civic body has identified four specific locations for the proposed facilities:

• Ghummanhera (Najafgarh zone)
• Kharkhari Nahar (Najafgarh zone)
• Rani Khera (Narela zone)
• Sultanpur Dabas (Narela zone)

According to the report, the corporation formally wrote to the DDA on September 28 to request land allocation for these plants. Additionally, officials noted that the MCD has identified land under its own ownership to further support waste-treatment capacity expansion.

Ongoing Mitigation and Past Approvals

While the corporation has utilized bio-mining to address legacy waste at existing landfill sites, continuous dumping of fresh waste creates new mounds and increases the demand for expanded processing capacity.

• In June, the MCD approved five waste-processing projects valued at approximately Rs 596 crore.
• These projects are planned for Bhalswa, Okhla, Singhola, Ghazipur, and Narela-Bawana, aiming for a combined capacity of 5,900 tonnes per day.
• Delhi currently operates four waste-to-energy plants with a combined capacity of 6,550 tonnes daily.
• Conversely, an Okhla composting plant capable of handling 200 tonnes daily has remained non-operational for years due to delays linked to its proposed conversion into a bio-CNG facility.

Readers can verify official announcements and updates regarding urban infrastructure projects through the official portals of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and the Delhi Development Authority.