In the first episode, I interviewed Shashank who used to go on Landfill Pilgrimages. Yes, that term intrigued me too. So a few weeks later, I went on my own Landfill Pilgrimage to the Bhalswa landfill. I met Gunraagh there.

Gunraagh Singh Talwar runs an organisation called Better Bhalswa, which works on ground there. He is an architect and possesses a deep understanding of Bhalswa, both scientifically and socially. Let’s go, listen!— He talks about growing up with the dumpsite, the history and politics of Bhalswa and much more.

(1:00 ) - Beginning

(1:31 ) - On Gunraagh's connection with Bhalswa

(3:22 ) - On growing up with the dumpsite

(4:13 ) - How did your awareness arise?

(8:00 ) - Which is the biggest landfill in Delhi?

(8:28 ) - Why did the landfill catch fire?

(8:47 ) - Engineered landfills v. Dumpsites

(9:10 ) - What is biomining?

(10:10 ) - Why do landfills release methane?

(11:41 ) - How is the fire in landfills extinguished?

(13:20 ) - How does a landfill/dumpsite affect the groundwater?

(16:04 ) - On the stigma of living near a dumpsite

(19:27 ) - Intersectionality

(20:02 ) - Which constituency does Bhalswa lie in?

(20:17 ) - Clarification on landfills and dumpsites

(21:13 ) - No Landfill Policy

(22:17 ) - Is source segregation enough?

(22:42 ) - Kabaadiwalas FTW!

(23:28 ) - Is there a solution?

(24:18 ) - Leapfrogging technology

(24:58 ) - Delhi Master Plan 2041: A Promise

(26:08 ) - What is bioremediation?

(27:20 ) - What is inert soil?

(28:18 ) - What is Refused Derived Fuel?

(29:44 ) - The irony

(30:41 ) - Bhalswa lake

(33:34 ) - Leachate

(33:53 ) - Better Bhalswa & Wonder in Waste

(35:00 ) - Volunteering for Better Bhalswa



#landfill #wastemanagement #climatechange