Source- This post on Status of Legacy Waste Management Under Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 is based on the article “Only 16% land reclaimed under legacy waste management project of Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0” published in The Hindu on 23rd September 2024.
Why in News?
Recently, it has been observed that the progress of legacy waste management project of the Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 has been slower.
Status of Legacy Waste Management Under Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0
1. About: Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 was launched on October 1, 2021 for the duration of five years i.e. up to October 1, 2026
2. Objective: Achieve ‘Garbage-Free Status‘ for all cities by remediating legacy waste dumpsites and converting them into green zones.
Note: Legacy waste dumpsites are areas that have accumulated solid waste over many years, stored without scientific methods or proper regulation.
3. Key Goals: 100% source segregation, Door-to-door waste collection, Scientific waste management, including safe disposal in landfills and remediation of legacy dumpsites
4. Status of Dumpsite Remediation:
| Indicators | Description |
| Total Dumpsites Identified | 2,424 sites with over 1,000 tonnes of legacy waste |
| Remediation Completed | 470 sites fully remediated |
| Ongoing Remediation | 1,224 sites approved and under process |
| Untouched Sites | 730 sites remain unaddressed |
5. Land Reclamation Progress:
| Indicators | Description |
| Total Dumpsites Identified | 28,460.33 acres |
| Reclaimed Land | Only 16% (4,552.34 acres) has been reclaimed |
| Pending Reclamation | 84% (23,908 acres) of land is yet to be reclaimed |
6. State Performance:
1. Tamil Nada has the largest area reclaimed, with 837 acres (42%).
2. Gujarat is the best performing state by percentage, reclaiming 75% (698 out of 938 acres) of its landfill area.
UPSC Syllabus: Environment
