A serious environmental violation has come to light involving the illegal dumping of unprocessed waste from Chandigarh’s Daddumajra dumping ground into Punjab during the night. It is alleged that a waste processing company transported the garbage in heavy trucks and secretly buried it near Palheri village, close to Mullanpur Garibdas in New Chandigarh, covering it with soil to conceal the act.
Complainant Kuldeep Singh Kukki, a resident of Dhanas, claimed that video evidence of the entire operation is available, clearly showing around 10 trucks moving from Daddumajra towards New Chandigarh during the night.
The matter surfaced on January 9, 2026, around 10:30 pm, when “complaints were received from Kuldeep Kukki, a resident of Dhanas, Chandigarh, and Sunny Ahluwalia, chairman of the Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board (PWSSB), a resident of Phase 3A, Mohali, and the district administration”, alleging that “some illegal trucks were dumping the garbage in village Palheri”.
Acting swiftly, a team from the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) reached the spot and conducted an inspection at geo-location: 30.793712, 76.685214. During the operation, five trucks belonging to Tata and BharatBenz were seized. The truck registration numbers are PB 03 BM 8797, PB 03 BM 8897, PB 65 AU 6712, PB 11 BR 6877 and PB 65 BE 9761. However, the drivers managed to flee the scene.
According to the PPCB, the material found in the trucks was municipal solid waste, which must be scientifically processed as mandated under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. Instead, the waste lifted from the Daddumajra dump site was being illegally buried in Punjab — in blatant violation of environmental norms.
Garbage spilled on a road after a trailer overturned near the roundabout of sector 20-34 of Chandigarh on Sunday. Jasbir Malhi
Based on the PPCB’s complaint, an FIR has been registered at Mullanpur Garibdas police station under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and BNS sections 271 and 272 against the waste management contractor, unknown truck owners/drivers, the landowner where the waste was dumped, and the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation.
Chandigarh’s former mayor Kuldeep Singh Tita, senior deputy mayor Jasbir Singh Bunty, deputy mayor Taruna Mehta along with AAP councillor Prem Lata stated, “Eliminating a dumping ground does not mean polluting another state’s land. If a tender has been awarded, the waste must be properly processed.”
The leaders alleged that despite payments running into crores of rupees, the waste was not being processed, calling it a case of clear collusion. They announced plans to submit a formal complaint to Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria on Monday, demanding strict action against those responsible.
Confirming the probe, S-I Dilbag Singh, who is investigating the case, said the matter is being examined seriously and “strict legal action will be taken against the culprits after the investigation is completed”.
A fresh controversy has surfaced in Chandigarh’s waste management system after a vehicle belonging to a Chandigarh waste contractor, allegedly transporting RDF (refuse derived fuel) to another state, met with an accident near Labour Chowk between sectors 20 and 34 early Sunday morning. The truck overturned around 3:00 am, exposing its contents, and till 12.30 no one came to clear the road.
On receiving information about the incident, former mayor Kuldeep Kumar, senior deputy mayor Jasbir Singh Bunty, deputy mayor Taruna Mehta, and councillor Prem Lata rushed to the spot and conducted an on-site inspection.
During the inspection, the councillors found that the vehicle was not carrying RDF, as claimed, but was instead loaded with wet municipal waste. The garbage reportedly included stones, pebbles, coconut shells, and other mixed waste, clearly contradicting the claim that RDF was being transported.
The leaders stated that “the presence of wet waste instead of RDF clearly indicates that garbage is being sent to another state under false pretences”.
The incident has triggered serious suspicions of large-scale irregularities and a possible scam in the name of RDF transportation. All public representatives present at the site demanded a thorough and time-bound investigation, asserting that “strict action must be taken against those responsible if the allegations are found to be true”.
AAP councillor Prem Lata demanded an FIR against Akanksha Interprises Ltd, alleging the firm violated contract terms and illegally dumped garbage near New Chandigarh, close to Mullanpur Garibdas. She said several trucks were seized by the Punjab Police. “People of Chandigarh are being looted.. earlier, there were vote thieves, now we see garbage thieves,” she said.
Calling the garbage trade a “gold mine” and “white elephant”, she questioned an ₹800-crore tender, adding, “Where was the need for it?” She said plantation drives were an eyewash, stating, “Planting saplings will not remove the stench.”
AAP Punjab general secretary, AAP Chandigarh co-incharge and Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board chairman Dr Sunny Singh Ahluwalia questioned the silence of BJP leaders over the illegal dumping of Daddumajra garbage in Punjab. He said that despite more than 12 tippers being used and five vehicles seized, no BJP leader has condemned the incident. “Where did crores of rupees meant for garbage disposal finally go?” he asked, alleging political patronage and misuse of public funds.
When contacted, Chandigarh Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla said that she had no information about the FIR registered in Punjab. She added that only after going to her office tomorrow and obtaining complete details would she be able to make any comment.
“If the company has carried out any such act, strict action will be taken against it,” she told The Indian Express. Regarding the allegations levelled by councillor Prem Lata, as well as allegations made by other councillors, the mayor said, “It is the job of a councillor to say something or the other. I will not comment on the allegations being made by them.”
Curated by Dr. Elena Rodriguez
