Environmental Pollutants from Landfill Sites and Their Implications for Food Quality and Public Health Nutrition: A Study of State Accountability

Abstract

The paper discusses the serious environmental and public health crisis posed by Delhi’s three legacy landfill sites, namely Ghazipur, Bhalswa, and Okhla. These sites are open dumping grounds that lack essential protective features like leachate collection systems and bottom liners. As a result, toxic leachate permeates the local ecosystem, especially the food chain and affects human health. The paper also explores the issue of crops like spinach and mustard absorbing heavy metals such as lead and chromium from the contaminated water. Grazing of livestock on the contaminated waste mountain results in the production of contaminated milk full of dioxins and PCBs, creating a direct vector for paediatric toxicity. The infants consuming this milk suffer from stunted growth despite containing sufficient calories. The paper also delves into the area of State responsibility and how it has failed to fulfil its duty. Article 21 also provides the people living around landfill sites the right to a healthy and clean environment. While judicial activism through the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed environmental compensation based on the polluter pays principle, significant accountability gaps remain regarding food safety and chemical runoff. The paper shall discuss the above issues and provide an appropriate solution to resolve the menace.