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{{Short description|Landfill in Ahmedabad, India}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}}

'''Pirana Landfill''' (also called Pirana Dump Yard) is a large [[municipal solid waste]] site located in [[Ahmedabad]], [[Gujarat]], [[India]]. In use since 1982, it is one of the largest and oldest landfills in India.<ref name="NDTV-GarbageMountains">{{cite news |title=Nearing 35 Years, Ahmedabad’s Pirana Landfill Is Infamous For Its Garbage Mountains And Frequent Fires |url=https://swachhindia.ndtv.com/nearing-35-years-ahmedabads-pirana-landfill-is-infamous-for-its-garbage-mountains-and-frequent-fires-11855/ |work=NDTV Swachh India |date=September 14, 2017 |access-date=May 24, 2025 |quote=Spreading over an area of 84 hectares, the Pirana landfill has been the city's major dumping yard since 1982.}}</ref><ref name="IndianExpress-Reclaiming">{{cite news |title=Gujarat Hardlook: Reclaiming wasteland |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/ahmedaabd-waste-management-landfill-site-ahmedabad-municipal-corporation-8974086/ |work=The Indian Express |date=October 9, 2023 |access-date=May 24, 2025 |quote=Over the last four decades, Ahmedabad’s entry point in Pirana village has metamorphosed to add stinking mounds of garbage reaching up to 50 metres in height.}}</ref><ref name="Quint-Poisoned">{{cite news |title='Poisoned' Near Pirana: Living Around Ahmedabad’s Mountain of Garbage |url=https://www.thequint.com/quintlab/ahmedabad-poisoned-near-pirana-gujarat-landfill-water/ |work=The Quint |date=November 30, 2022 |access-date=May 24, 2025 |quote=In use since the early '80s, the Pirana dumpsite is spread across 80 acres with 75-metre-high garbage mounds...}}</ref> The site has become infamous for its towering garbage mounds, health hazards and environmental challenges.<ref name="TOI-Toxicity">{{cite news |title=Toxi-city: Pirana pollution raises public health stink |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/toxi-city-pirana-pollution-raises-public-health-stink/articleshow/116345027.cms |work=The Times of India |date=December 5, 2024 |access-date=May 24, 2025 |quote=The unscientific dumping of waste over the past four decades has turned the area into a toxic hotspot...}}</ref><ref name="IndianExpress-Reclaiming"/>

The Pirana landfill was established in 1982 to receive solid waste generated by the [[Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation]] (AMC). For decades, it served as the primary waste disposal site for the city.<ref name="NDTV-GarbageMountains"/> As urban waste generation increased, the landfill became severely overburdened. Despite reaching full capacity, it continued to operate into the 2020s.<ref name="DeshGujarat-BioMining">{{cite news |title=95 lakh metric tonnes of waste removed from Pirana dumping site; 35 acres land cleared |url=https://deshgujarat.com/2023/09/20/95-lakh-metric-tonnes-of-waste-removed-from-pirana-dumping-site-35-acres-land-cleared/ |work=DeshGujarat |date=September 20, 2023 |access-date=May 24, 2025 |quote=The site had 85 acres of land where more than 1.25 lakh metric tonnes of waste from the city was dumped in the past four decades.}}</ref><ref name="IndianExpress-Reclaiming"/>

==Impact and remediation efforts==
As of 2023, the landfill had received over 126 [[lakh]] metric tonnes of waste. Waste from the city has been dumped in an unsegregated form, leading to massive accumulations of garbage, including non-biodegradable materials like plastic and rubber. The landfill's expansion led to environmental degradation and health issues for nearby residents.<ref name="Quint-Poisoned"/><ref name="LCW-HealthRisk">{{cite news |title=Gujarat Government Fails to Close Down Pirana Landfill, 3 Lakh People at Health Risk |url=https://www.landconflictwatch.org/conflicts/gujarat-government-fails-to-close-down-pirana-landfill-3-lakh-people-at-health-risk |work=Land Conflict Watch |date=December 2016 |access-date=May 24, 2025 |quote=Burning garbage at Pirana landfill is reportedly affecting the health of around three lakh nearby residents, in violation of Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016.}}</ref>

Pirana Landfill has been linked to severe public health problems in surrounding areas. Residents have reported illnesses due to air pollution, noxious odors, and contaminated groundwater<. Additionally, water used to control dust and fires at the site has led to significant water wastage—reportedly up to 48,000 liters daily.<ref name="TOI-Toxicity"/><ref name="LCW-HealthRisk"/>

==Fires==
The Pirana Landfill has experienced frequent fires over the years. These fires are often caused by the accumulation of methane gas from decomposing waste and the presence of flammable materials like plastic and rubber. They release thick smoke and toxic fumes,<ref name="NDTV-GarbageMountains"/> lowering air quality in Ahmedabad and causing health problems for people nearby.<ref name="NDTV-GarbageMountains"/><ref name="TOI-BurningMountain">{{cite news |title=Ahmedabad's Burning Mountain |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/ahmedabads-burning-mountain/articleshow/58249288.cms |newspaper=The Times of India |date=April 19, 2017 |access-date=May 24, 2025 |quote=Experts say that methane gas, generated from the huge quantities of rotting garbage, is the primary cause of these fires. Besides, presence of plastic and rubber also add fuel to the fire...}}</ref>

In April 2017, the landfill caught fire again, producing large plumes of smoke and a foul smell across the city.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pirana Dump Again Catches Flames |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/pirana-dump-again-catches-flames/articleshow/58230285.cms |newspaper=The Times of India |date=April 18, 2017 |access-date=May 24, 2025}}</ref> The same month, another report stated that thousands of residents were affected by the smoke, and the municipal corporation struggled to control the fire.<ref name="IE-PiranaHelpless">{{cite news |title=Pirana Fire Affects Thousands, Municipal Corporation Helpless |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/pirana-fire-affects-thousands-municipal-corporation-helpless-4617327/ |newspaper=The Indian Express |date=April 18, 2017 |access-date=May 24, 2025}}</ref>

Fires have occurred close together in time. In October 2016, two major fires happened just five days apart.<ref name="TOI-SecondBlaze">{{cite news |title=Second Blaze in Five Days, Pirana Spews Toxic Fumes |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/second-blaze-in-five-days-pirana-spews-toxic-fumes/articleshow/55083516.cms |newspaper=The Times of India |date=October 27, 2016 |access-date=May 24, 2025}}</ref> In October 2017, the landfill was still burning several days after a fire started, causing continuing smoke and fumes.<ref name="TOI-MtStillAblaze">{{cite news |title=Mt Pirana Still Ablaze, Fumes Have Area in Chokehold |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/mt-pirana-still-ablaze-fumes-have-area-in-chokehold/articleshow/61191043.cms |newspaper=The Times of India |date=October 24, 2017 |access-date=May 24, 2025}}</ref>

In another October 2016 incident, firefighters took nine hours to control a large fire, which officials said could have turned into a disaster similar to Mumbai's Deonar landfill fire.<ref name="TOI-DeonarAverted">{{cite news |title=Deonar-Type Fire Barely Averted at Pirana |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/deonar-type-fire-barely-averted-at-pirana/articleshow/54990551.cms |newspaper=The Times of India |date=October 22, 2016 |access-date=May 24, 2025}}</ref>

These fires release harmful gases. Residents near the landfill report breathing problems, and some health experts have warned about long-term cancer risks.<ref name="TOI-CancerRisks">{{cite news |title=Chemical Fumes and Cancer Risks Cripple People Living Near Pirana |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/chemical-fumes-and-cancer-risks-cripple-people-living-near-pirana/articleshow/61144488.cms |newspaper=The Times of India |date=October 19, 2017 |access-date=May 24, 2025}}</ref> In December 2016, fireworks and flammable waste after Diwali caused another fire, described in media reports as turning Pirana into a "fiery pit of hell."<ref name="TOI-PiranaHell">{{cite news |title=Pirana Smoulders Like Fiery Pit of Hell |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/pirana-smoulders-like-fiery-pit-of-hell/articleshow/55735736.cms |newspaper=The Times of India |date=December 1, 2016 |access-date=May 24, 2025}}</ref>

One cause of these fires is the dumping of already burning garbage by trucks. In some cases, open flames are introduced by accident during unloading.<ref name="TOI-BurningMountain"/>

After a fire in October 2019, the Pirana area recorded the city's worst [[air quality index]] (AQI).<ref name="IE-AQI">{{cite news |title=Pirana Records Poorest Air Quality Index in Ahmedabad |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/pirana-records-poorest-air-quality-index-in-ahmedabad-6090573/ |newspaper=The Indian Express |date=October 28, 2019 |access-date=May 24, 2025}}</ref> However, some residents reported that pollution monitoring systems like SAFAR did not reflect the severity of the smoke.<ref name="TOI-SAFAR">{{cite news |title=With Smoke All Around, Safar Gives Suhana Picture |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/with-smoke-all-around-safar-gives-suhana-picture/articleshow/61137466.cms |newspaper=The Times of India |date=October 18, 2017 |access-date=May 24, 2025}}</ref>

==Current Status==
As of early 2024, AMC has reported significant progress in remediation.<ref name="TOI-40AcresFreed">{{cite news |title=40 acres freed up at Pirana |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/40-acres-freed-up-at-pirana/articleshow/109828473.cms |work=The Times of India |date=May 4, 2024 |access-date=May 24, 2025 |quote=The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has successfully processed and disposed of 126.12 lakh metric tonnes of legacy waste at Pirana, freeing up 40 acres of land.}}</ref> The landfill remains partially active, with sections still under processing. City officials expect full reclamation of the site within the next three to five years, though concerns persist regarding long-term environmental sustainability.<ref name="IE-ReclaimingWasteland">{{cite news |title=Gujarat Hardlook: Reclaiming wasteland |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/ahmedaabd-waste-management-landfill-site-ahmedabad-municipal-corporation-8974086/ |work=The Indian Express |date=October 9, 2023 |access-date=May 24, 2025 |quote=AMC officials say they plan to clear the Pirana dumping the next three to five years.}}</ref><ref name="CPCB-ActionReport">{{cite report |title=Action Taken Report Submitted Before Hon'ble NGT |url=https://greentribunal.gov.in/sites/default/files/news_updates/REPORT%20BY%20CPCB%20VIDE%20EMAIL%20DT.%2021.01.2025%20OA%20NO.%20247%20of%202024%20NEWS%20ITEM%20TITLED%20AHEMDABAD%20SURAT%20LANDFILLS%20AMONG%20WORST%20THREE%20METHANE%20HOTSPOTS%20IN%20INDIA.pdf |publisher=Central Pollution Control Board |date=January 21, 2025 |access-date=May 24, 2025 |quote=Bio mining at Pirana dumpsite in Ahmedabad has been completed & capping is ongoing. The reclamation of land is ongoing.}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Deonar dumping ground]]
* [[Ghazipur landfill]]
* [[Mavallipura]]
* [[Okhla landfill]]
* [[Waste management in India]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://ahmedabadcity.gov.in Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation Website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251204194658/https://ahmedabadcity.gov.in/ |date=4 December 2025 }}

{{Landfills in india}}

{{coord|22.980|72.566|type:landmark_region:IN|display=title}}

[[Category:Landfills in India]]
[[Category:Environmental issues in India]]
[[Category:Ahmedabad]]

Pirana Landfill - Revision history

HeikeC58098401: added new pg