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