Ghazipur landfill

The Ghazipur landfill (aka Mount Vikaas) is a landfill waste dumping site established in 1984. It is located in Ghazipur, a village in the eastern district of Delhi, India.^[1]

Workers on top of Ghazipur landfill in 2013

The landfill covers an area of approximately 70 acres (28 ha) and reaches heights of over 236 feet (72 m).^[2] Ghazipur has become one of the largest landfills in Delhi. The landfill reached its maximum capacity in 2002; however, it continues to receive solid waste from the city of Delhi.^[3]

Despite efforts to mitigate problems, long-term mismanagement at the landfill has created significant ongoing environmental, fire, and human health hazards, with the site emitting toxic gases, polluting groundwater, and creating an extreme fire hazard.^[4][5]

A major fire broke out at the landfill site on 21 April 2024; the fire rapidly spread, engulfing several areas of the landfill.^[6] Toxic smoke from the fire has caused significant health and breathing problems.^[7] The cause of the fire is undetermined.^[8][9] The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has requested a reply from the relevant authorities, such as the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), regarding the recent fire incident at the Ghazipur landfill site within a period of five weeks.^[10]