Explained: What are cities doing with land reclaimed from garbage dumps under Swachh Bharat Mission

As a goal of the SBM Urban 2.0, which was launched in 2021, all legacy landfills in the country are to be cleared by 2025-2026.

What cities are doing with land reclaimed from garbage dumps

Out of the 2,421 legacy landfills in the country, 474 sites across 23 states and Union Territories have been remediated, clearing up 2,617.38 acres of land, according to the SBM dashboard.

From parks to metro depots, several cities have been able to put the land cleared by remediating legacy landfill sites to alternate use under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0.

As a goal of the SBM Urban 2.0, which was launched in 2021, all legacy landfills in the country are to be cleared by 2025-2026. Out of the 2,421 legacy landfills in the country, 474 sites across 23 states and Union Territories have been remediated, clearing up 2,617.38 acres of land, according to the SBM dashboard.

As per sources associated with the mission, the cities that have been able to clear the land earlier occupied by mounds of waste have now begun using the sites for other uses or are in the planning process.

Read | With 2026 target nearing, clearing of 50% landfills in big cities yet to start

Here is what some cities are doing with the land reclaimed so far:

* Ahmedabad has been able to clear up 4.3 acres of land that used to have 2.30 lakh tonnes of waste at one of its two dumpsites, Bopal Ghuma. The project was carried out at cost of Rs.4.17 crore, with the redevelopment of the site as an ecological park costing an additional Rs 8 crore, said a source. Now, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation maintains the park at the site. The work of reclaiming the larger landfill in Ahmedabad, Pirana, which is spread over 84 acres, is ongoing. About 54% of the land has been cleared so far.

* Nagpur’s legacy landfill spread over 35 acres, with 10 lakh metric tonnes of waste, has also been 100% cleared under the mission. Sources associated with the project said the site will be used for an integrated waste management project. The bioremediation of the waste led to generation of refuse derived fuel and manure, which is being sold, another source said.

* Pune’s legacy landfill at Vanaz has been cleared for use as a depot for the Metro in the city. According to the SBM data, 37 lakh tonnes of waste has been remediated, clearing up 75 acres of land. The site is now known as the Hill View Park Car Depot and is a part of the Pune Metro Rail project inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2022.

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* Lucknow’s landfill at Ghaila was spread over 72 acres, with 8 lakh tonnes of waste. The site has been cleared and is being used to develop a park, Rashtriya Prerna Sthal, said officials. The park, with statues of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, founders of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh Syama Prasad Mookerjee and Deendayal Upadhyaya, is awaiting inauguration. It will also have other facilities like a 3,000-capacity open air theatre and exhibition spaces.

Damini Nath

Damini Nath is an Assistant Editor with the national bureau of The Indian Express. She covers the housing and urban affairs and Election Commission beats. She has 11 years of experience as a reporter and sub-editor. Before joining The Indian Express in 2022, she was a reporter with The Hindu’s national bureau covering culture, social justice, housing and urban affairs and the Election Commission. ... Read More