Only 16% of land reclaimed under Swachh project to rid urban areas of legacy waste
- Launched with much fanfare, the legacy waste management project of the Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 has been a slow starter, with only 470 out of 2,424 dumpsites completely remediated and an area of 16% reclaimed, three years since the mission was rolled out.
Highlights:
- Launched in 2021, the Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 aimed to tackle legacy waste dumpsites across India. However, three years into the program, progress has been slow, with only 470 out of 2,424 dumpsites fully remediated and only 16% of the area reclaimed.
Legacy Waste Dumpsites: An Overview:
- Legacy waste dumpsites contain solid waste accumulated over years, stored unscientifically.
- Traditionally, Indian cities created garbage hills on the outskirts, which have now become central to expanding urban areas, posing significant environmental and health risks.
- The Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry estimates 16 crore tonnes of waste buried under 15,000 acres of prime real estate across India.
Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0: Vision and Objectives:
- Launched on October 1, 2021, for a five-year period, the mission aims to achieve Garbage-Free Status for all cities.
- Key goals include:
- 100% source segregation of waste.
- Door-to-door collection.
- Scientific waste management, including safe disposal in landfills.
- Remediation of legacy dumpsites and converting them into green zones.
Provisions for Scientific Landfills:
- The mission aims to prevent the creation of new dumpsites by promoting scientific landfills for untreated waste.
Funding and Implementation Challenges:
- The Central government has approved ₹3,226 crore for the remediation of dumpsites.
- States and Union Territories are expected to contribute matching funds for implementation.
- However, progress has been hindered by slow project rollouts and a lack of coordinated efforts from local bodies.
Current Status of Dumpsite Remediation
- Overall Progress:
- 470 of 2,424 dumpsites remediated.
- 16% of the total area (4,552 acres) has been reclaimed, leaving 84% (23,908 acres) still to be addressed.
- Best-Performing States:
- Tamil Nadu reclaimed the most land (837 acres or 42% of its target).
- Gujarat leads in performance, reclaiming 75% of landfill areas (698 of 938 acres).
Municipal Solid Waste Generation:
- India generates approximately 1,50,000 tonnes of solid waste per day, as per the State of India’s Environment 2023 report, highlighting the ongoing challenge of waste management across the country.
Prelims Takeaways:
- Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0