Gandhinagar: In a proactive step towards making Indian cities into clean and waste-free urban spaces, the Swachh Bharat Mission Urban was launched nationwide in 2014  and later the central government introduced Swachh Bharat Mission Urban 2.0 in 2021 with a significant allocation of ₹1,41,600 crore.

According to Swachh Bharat Mission Urban 2.0 data, Gujarat has remediated 210 lakh tonnes of legacy waste out of a total of 221 lakh tonnes from 140 dumpsites across the state. With 95% of the waste cleared, only 5% remains. Gujarat ranks at the top among major states in waste disposal efforts. Under Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) Phase-II, 2,426 dumpsites with a waste volume of 1,000 tonnes or more have been identified across the country, with 140 of them located in Gujarat.

Top 10 States in Legacy Waste Disposal:

Gujarat is the pioneering state in the country to clear and reclaim dumpsites of 500 acres and above, facilitating the land’s reuse. Of the total 930 acres of dumpsites in the state, 698 acres have been successfully cleared. Gujarat’s two largest dumpsites, Pirana and Bopal in Ahmedabad, have had 129 lakh tons of waste removed, reclaiming 46 acres from a total of 90 acres. Maharashtra holds the largest area of dumpsites nationwide (3,352 acres), Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Mizoram have the smallest dumpsites, each covering 3 acres, while Delhi, with 202 acres of dumpsites, has yet to clear any. Tamil Nadu follows closely cleared 837 acres, or 42%, of its 1,954-acre total.

Top States in Cleared Area (States with 500 acres or more):

In legacy waste management initiatives, land valued at ₹201.2 crore has been reclaimed in eight municipal corporations, while land valued at ₹109.6 crore has been reclaimed across 157 municipalities. A solid waste processing plant is set to be constructed on this reclaimed land in the municipality areas, with plans for it to be operational by March 2025.

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel remarked on this significant achievement, stating, “Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of a Swachh Bharat is becoming a reality through the leadership and dedicated efforts of our Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi. Gujarat is leading the way in economic development while emphasizing cleanliness and environmental preservation. Our government is committed to upholding cleanliness and protecting the environment, and citizens can look forward to even better results in the future.”