In the present study we employed sugarcane bagasse for biotreatment of soil containing 50 mg kg(-1) of lindane. Garden soil were treated with lindane and amended with varying concentrations of sugarcane bagasse (10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50%: w/w). Data on dissipation and degradation of lindane in soil columns (0-15, 15-30 cm) were studied at six consecutive samplings (0, 3, 7, 45 and 60 days). Treatment with 50% sugarcane bagasse resulted in >53% degradation of lindane in upper soil column with minimal leaching to lower soil column (0.002%) while highest leaching of lindane from upper soil column to lower soil column was occurred in garden soil (35.8%). Similarly, a substantial microbial biomass input has detected in amended soil than garden soil. Our results provide evidence that sugarcane bagasse can accelerate lindane degradation by enhanced microbial activity and prevent pesticide mobility through soil column by adsorption. Sugarcane bagasse could be useful as cheaper, easy available alternative for the biotreatment of lindane impacted soil. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.