New Delhi: Delhi’s Environment Minister, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, announced on Thursday that over 30 acres of the 62-acre Okhla landfill have been successfully reclaimed, with nearly 5.6 million metric tonnes of legacy waste processed.
During an inspection of the bio-mining operations at the landfill, Sirsa was accompanied by Delhi Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh, MP Ramveer Singh Bidhuri, and senior officials from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the Revenue Department.
Sirsa reported that the landfill’s height has been significantly reduced from 60 meters to 20 meters, with an ambitious target to remove an additional 3 million metric tonnes of waste by December, and an internal goal set for October.
आज सांसद श्री @RamvirBidhuri जी और MCD मेयर श्री @RajaiqbalSingh4 जी के साथ ओखला लैंडफिल साइट का दौरा किया। मैं दिल्ली के लोगों को आश्वस्त करता हूँ कि जिस तरह धरती से डायनासोर का नामो-निशान मिट गया था, उसी तरह अब प्रधानमंत्री @narendramodi जी के विज़न और मुख्यमंत्री @gupta_rekha… pic.twitter.com/s1xSdUyghP
— Manjinder Singh Sirsa (@mssirsa) May 15, 2025
“Clean air, clean water, and the complete removal of waste mountains are our top priorities under the mission of ‘Viksit Delhi.’ A cleaner Delhi is no longer just a vision; it is becoming a reality,” Sirsa stated.
In a pointed critique of the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, Sirsa remarked, “They should be renamed the ‘Aage Aaye Pollution (AAP) Party’ for their role in exacerbating Delhi’s air and waste crisis. We are achieving what the ‘AAPda’ (Disaster) government failed to accomplish in ten years.”
The bio-mining process involves the scientific segregation of legacy waste into recyclable materials, Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF), inert materials, and soil-like substances. The RDF is utilized as an alternative fuel in cement plants and paper mills, while the remaining materials are repurposed for site leveling and road construction, all in compliance with environmental regulations.
Emphasizing the project’s broader significance, Sirsa noted that it is an integral component of a comprehensive transformation of Delhi’s waste management system. The initiative seeks to mitigate fire hazards, prevent groundwater contamination, and enhance the quality of life for residents living in proximity to landfills.
