Waste from Bandhwari dumped in Mangar's Aravallis: activists
Mangar village in Faridabad is emerging as a new epicentre of illegal dumping, with hundreds of tonnes of waste from the Bandhwari landfill being offloaded into the fragile ecosystem of the Aravalli hills in recent days, according to environmentalists and locals. Illegal dumping sites in forest area of Mangar village near Mauji Dham Hanuman Mandir, in Gurugram as spotted by activists. (Parveen Kumar/HT Photo)
Starting Friday birders and environmentalists said they saw multiple dumper trucks transporting untreated 'compost waste' — likely laden with plastics, heavy metals, and toxins — into Mangar's Gair Mumkin Pahar zone, which spans 3,810 acres. Of this, 1,132 acres are protected under Sections 4 and 5 of the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA), while the remaining land falls under the 'forest status to be decided' category, where non-forest activity is prohibited.
The waste is allegedly being dumped not just to discard landfill residue, but to alter the terrain illegally said Lt Col (Retd) Sarvadaman Singh Oberoi, a conservationist. The material, he said, is being spread to level undulations, fill kuccha paths and rain-fed johar catchments—effectively flattening terrain to create roads and illegally occupy forest land.
'I was shocked to see huge mounds of legacy waste dumped across forest trails in Mangar. The Bandhwari landfill isn't reducing because it's being processed—it's being dumped here,' said Pragya Taneja, a wildlife enthusiast who visited the site on Tuesday.
Locals and environmentalists said the activity has now extended into neighbouring villages such as Dhauj and Kot. Vaishali Rana, a Gurugram-based environmentalist, said: 'This needs urgent investigation. The scale of dumping, the toxic nature of the trommel residue, and the destruction of ecology must be scrutinized. Authorities must answer how waste is moving from a state-monitored landfill into a protected eco-zone without checks.'
Lt Col (Retd) Sarvadaman Singh Oberoi, a conservationist, said: 'Mangar has over 3,800 acres of Aravalli land, of which 1,132 are PLPA-protected. The rest is forest land awaiting notification. No non-forest activity can take place here. What's happening is not just illegal—it's ecocidal. This dumped waste is burying native herbs, wildlife burrows, and tree saplings, altering the region's ecology permanently.' Illegal dumping sites in forest area of Mangar village near Mauji Dham Hanuman Mandir, in Gurugram as spotted by activists. (Parveen Kumar/HT Photo)
Oberoi said the dumped material includes toxic rejects from trommel sieving at Bandhwari—microplastics, metallic waste, and leachate-prone materials. Experts warned that dumping such residue in low-lying areas can contaminate water catchments, with toxins seeping into groundwater and affecting ecosystems and local communities. 'I have been keeping a check on the dumped material,' he said.
Ashok Kumar Garg, commissioner of the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG), said he has taken serious note of the activity. 'I have ordered an immediate inspection of the Mangar site. An inquiry will be marked to identify the violators behind this illegal activity. Strict action will be taken under environmental and municipal laws,' he said.
Forest watchers and environmentalists suspect this may be among the largest coordinated land transformations in the Aravallis in recent years. 'Trucks are clearing paths and dumping behind dams, across slopes, and in catchment zones. The intent is clear—they're preparing land for illegal occupation,' Oberoi said.
With the Bandhwari landfill shrinking despite no meaningful expansion in waste-processing capacity, environmental groups fear illegal translocation of untreated waste could become the new norm. Residents of Mangar, already battling deforestation and encroachment, warn this may be the last chance to save the Aravallis—before bulldozers, politics, and profiteering erase them for good.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
4 hours ago
- The Hindu
Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority to set up 5 more Mudhalvar Padaippagams
Five public libraries are to be redesigned as Muthalvar Padaippagam (CM Spaces) under a ₹6.93-crore project by the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA). These spaces are designed to serve as co-working environments, which encourage both concentration and relaxation for the public. According to the CMDA, every space is expected to have air-conditioned reading spaces along with free high-speed internet workstations and separate sound-buffered zones, designed specifically for competitive exam preparation. The most ambitious project among the five is a ₹1.92 crore facility in Cheriyan Nagar, which is expected to feature cutting-edge study pods and specialised shelving systems designed for optimal book preservation and reader access, according to CMDA. Raise awareness and build opportunities N. Sakthivel from Vysai Thozhargal said, 'Such initiatives are non-existent in north Chennai. So, the initiative is greatly welcomed. College students in this area often lack career guidance. Many are hesitant to take proactive steps because they do not understand the processes needed to achieve their goals. Additionally, many come from backgrounds that do not support their aspirations.' Archanaa Seker, a Chennai-based activist and researcher, said such initiatives offering quality facilities in working-class neighbourhoods, would enable users to benefit significantly from a multi-use working and learning space. The CM Space in Kolathur has been well received by the local public, and is always buzzing as the slots are almost always full, she said. 'However, to boost entrepreneurship, there needs to be additional support and programmes that build capacity, skill sets, and enables networks to be formed — especially to encourage women to use the space. What happens in the space for those who come there, and how to bring more people in, especially women, is as important as creating the space itself,' Ms. Seker added.
The Hindu
7 hours ago
- The Hindu
Shipping disasters off Kerala coast highlighted at UN ocean meet in Nice
The two recent shipping disasters off the Kerala coast and issues related to the resultant environmental pollution were highlighted at the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC-3) by a Thiruvananthapuram-based organisation on Wednesday. UNOC-3 is under way at the French city of Nice. Kumar Sahayaraju of the Thiruvananthapuram-based Friends of Marine Life (FML) presented the issue at the Ocean Base Camp, an open space for civil society organisations. Mr. Sahayaraju said the two accidents, involving large container vessels, had caused severe pollution in the sea and on the Kerala coast. These two incidents, according to him, spotlighted the fact that the current maritime laws were inadequate to deal with the fallout of such disasters. 'Responsibility must lie either with the producers of these hazardous materials or with the shipping companies that transport them. Accountability must be enforced under stronger maritime laws, with clear legal consequences for violations,' Mr. Sahayaraju said. The FML, which is represented at the UNOC by Mr. Sahayaraju and the organisation's founder Robert Panipilla, also demanded that tracking devices for locating hazardous cargo in the event of an accident be made mandatory for all such cargo container shipments. In his presentation, Mr. Sahayaraju urged the United Nations to urgently establish and enforce international regulations governing the maritime transport of chemical and plastic pollutants. The Liberia-flagged MSC Elsa 3 sank off Kochi in May. The Singapore-flagged M.V. Wan Hai 503 caught fire after a massive explosion off Beypore in June. At the UN conference, the FML, which is involved in seabed studies and ocean conservation activities, appealed for urgent international action to protect marine ecosystems and coastal communities whose survival depends on them.
India Today
8 hours ago
- India Today
Can relationships be taught as a curriculum in a classroom?
Seems like your call with your best friend is about to get shorter, because Delhi University (DU) has launched a course that will cover everything from understanding love and friendships to spotting red flags and building healthier couldn't have come at a better time, as more and more teenagers grow vulnerable due to social media exposure and struggle to differentiate right from wrong. They even struggle to understand basic emotions like love and anger (as shown in Adolescence).advertisementStarting from the 2025–26 academic session, DU's Department of Psychology is offering a new elective titled 'Negotiating Intimate Relationships', as part of a broader initiative that also includes new courses like Media Psychology and Psychology of Adjustment. There's been plenty of hulaballoo around the need to bring such topics into the curriculum, and finally, someone is listening. Needless to say, the announcement has generated a lot of anticipation, and, of course, one big question that everyone seems to be asking: Is it actually going to make a difference?India Today tried to understand the sentiment by speaking to parents as well as relationship experts.A new breed of emotionally aware loversWith the introduction of a course that helps students understand relationships and its intricacies better, will we be able to welcome a new breed of emotionally aware lovers/partners?advertisementRuchi Ruuh, a Delhi-based relationship expert, feels maybe. 'Young adults today are navigating an incredibly complex emotional landscape. This course can offer something that can help them navigate this complexity, like long-distance relationships, situationships, digital intimacy, complex relationship dynamics and even burnout from dating apps. What these young people can learn is the vocabulary, psychological insight and communication tools to express and understand relationships.'This method demystifies conflict and reframes 'disagreements' as problem-solving exercises. Relationship fluency can hinge on reflective journaling prompts that prompt learners to chart their attachment patterns, triggers, and strengths. Regular self-assessment establishes self-awareness, an essential prerequisite for a healthy Chandni Tugnait, the founder of Gateway of Healing and a well-known relationship coach, agrees as well. She is of the opinion that this course can help demystify conflict and reframe 'disagreements' as problem-solving vs lived experienceOf course, love isn't a formula, and emotional intelligence isn't taught via chalkboard equations. Then, how do we see this making a difference?'Relationships are about doing, about how we respond to life, modelled from caregivers and past experiences,' explains Ruchi. 'But a course like this can help students process their experiences more consciously.'She compares it to learning about nutrition: 'Just because you study it doesn't mean you'll be fit, but it makes you aware. Likewise, relationship education won't prevent heartbreaks, but it can teach boundaries, empathy, and awareness.'More than just love talkIn a society where sex education is still taboo, will this course be able to make a difference? It could at least make a dent, both experts believe. While the course title includes 'relationships,' it's not just about dating. It's about consent. Communication. Respect. And perhaps most importantly, emotional all the scepticism that you hear about sex education cannot be entirely denied, this initiative could be a much-needed nudge forward.'It can help normalise discussions about consent, emotional boundaries, and digital intimacy, creating a stage for topics that are otherwise sidelined. "Role-plays and scenario analysis can demystify consent and communication, offering students concrete language and techniques before they face real situations,' Dr Tugnait she also expresses her apprehensions. 'If the curriculum stops at basic consent models and attachment-style overviews, it risks merely scratching the surface. True bridge-building requires candid exploration of sexual health, pleasure, power dynamics, and cultural stigmas, areas often omitted in relationship-only courses. Incorporating expert panels- counsellors, sexual-health educators, and supervised peer discussions can deepen the material, transforming abstract concepts into lived skills.'Sooner the better?advertisementAnother much-talked-about aspect of this course has been the time. Many are of the opinion that introducing something like this should be done earlier, in school, in fact, when the child is developing and in the receptive mode. Experts don't differ either.'By high school, most young people are already navigating crushes, heartbreaks, peer pressure and even toxic dynamics, most often in silence. Introducing relationship literacy early can help teens build emotional regulation, understand consent, respect boundaries, and most importantly, unlearn harmful patterns in relationships,' says Ruchi Tugnait breaks down the cons of introducing such subjects into the curriculum:advertisementEarly emotional literacy development: Introducing relationship education in high school helps students build emotional vocabulary and self-awareness before intense feelings overwhelm and boundary skills: Adolescents often lack clear guidance on consent and personal boundaries. A structured course can teach them to recognise verbal and non-verbal cues, negotiate comfort levels, and respect others' relationship navigation: Teens' first romantic experiences frequently occur online, through texting, social media, or dating apps. Hence, the of toxic patterns: Early exposure to concepts like power imbalances, emotional manipulation, and healthy conflict resolution helps students to spot red flags in real talk**Mr. Arjun Tiwari's daughter studies in Class 11 at a reputed Delhi school. When asked what he thinks about DU's new initiative, he said, 'It's a good initiative. There are things we cannot always talk about with our children, and there's a constant fear about whether they're on the right path. I just hope this is done properly, so students truly take away the understanding they need when it comes to modern relationships.'**Surabhi Mathur's son just graduated, and she feels this should have come much earlier. 'I would've been really happy if my son had had the opportunity when he was in college. It's a welcome change, but let's not expect too much too soon.'**Note: (Name Changed)
