MCG fines agency Rs 10 lakh after fire at Bandhwari landfill; April penalty yet to be recovered

Gurgaon: A day after a fire broke out at the Bandhwari landfill, MCG on Friday imposed a penalty of Rs 10 lakh on one of the two private agencies responsible for processing legacy waste at the site, citing inadequate fire safety arrangements.MCG joint commissioner Preet Pal Singh said the penalty would be adjusted against the agency's upcoming monthly payment.The fire erupted on Thursday, barely two months after a major blaze at the landfill in April that continued for nearly 50 hours. The incident occurred even before the civic body completed action against the agency held responsible for the earlier fire.For the April blaze, the same agency was fined Rs 5 lakh, but the amount is yet to be recovered, officials said.Following the April incident, MCG issued show-cause notices to the two agencies engaged in processing legacy waste at the landfill and sought their explanations before deciding on punitive action. Officials said the inquiry found one agency responsible for the April fire — the same agency now held accountable for Thursday's blaze.According to officials, the agency delayed its response after Thursday's fire broke out, allowing the flames to spread.

"The agency took time to act and control the fire. There are multiple reasons. Fires caused by friction in trommel machines can occur once every three months at large landfill sites, but they can be controlled in time. Moreover, there are several other factors, including inadequate fire safety arrangements, which cannot be ignored," an MCG official said.The recurring fires at the Bandhwari landfill have once again raised concerns over safety protocols and the effectiveness of legacy waste processing operations at the site, with the civic body now initiating punitive action against the contractor for the second time in two months.