Assam remediates 65 pc legacy waste in urban areas: CM Sarma
Guwahati, May 19
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Tuesday that effective urban garbage management remains one of the lesser discussed achievements of his government, asserting that the state has already remediated 65 per cent of legacy waste in urban areas under the Swachh Bharat Mission.
In a post on social media platform X, the Chief Minister noted that the initiative was inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a cleaner India under the Swachh Bharat campaign.
"One of the lesser talked about aspects of our governance is how we've been able to do urban garbage management. Inspired by PM Narendra Modi Ji's call of Swachh Bharat, we have remediated 65 per cent of legacy waste and are working towards achieving 100 per cent remediation," CM Sarma said.
The Chief Minister also shared details of the state government's waste management infrastructure and ongoing sanitation initiatives in Assam's urban areas.
According to data shared by Chief Minister Sarma, the state has identified 54 legacy waste treatment plants across urban centres, of which 23 are already operational and in service.
The state government has also planned 33 faecal sludge treatment plants, with 20 currently operational.
Officials said the legacy waste remediation initiative is aimed at scientifically clearing old garbage dumps accumulated over several years in municipal areas and converting them into reusable or environmentally safe material through bio-mining and waste processing technologies.
The state government has been focusing on improving urban sanitation, waste segregation and scientific disposal systems as part of broader efforts to strengthen civic infrastructure in towns and cities.
Urban development department officials said several municipal bodies have also introduced door-to-door waste collection systems and awareness campaigns to encourage segregation of biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste at source.
The Assam government has repeatedly stressed that proper waste management and sanitation are essential components of sustainable urban development and public health.
Officials added that the remaining legacy waste sites are being taken up in phases and efforts are underway to achieve complete remediation across Assam's urban areas in the coming months.
— IANS
Reader Comments
I live in Guwahati and honestly, the difference is visible. Earlier, garbage used to pile up for weeks at our local dumping ground - now they're actually processing it. But door-to-door segregation is still a challenge. Many people just mix everything. The government needs more awareness campaigns in local languages. Still, good job CM Sarma! 👏
This is genuinely good news. Legacy waste remediation is a silent crisis in most Indian cities - mountains of garbage that nobody talks about. If Assam can do 65%, it sets an example for other northeastern states too. The faecal sludge treatment plants are also crucial. But let's see how sustainable this is in the long run.
Finally some positive news from Assam beyond the usual political headlines! Waste management directly impacts public health and environment. But I hope this isn't just a numbers game - we need actual verification of remediation claims. Also, the 33 faecal sludge plants seem insufficient for entire urban Assam. More investment needed.
Having worked with municipal corporations, I can say this is no small feat. Legacy waste remediation through bio-mining is expensive and technically challenging. 23 operational plants out of 54 is decent progress. But the real test is the door-to-door collection and segregation at source. Without behavioral change, we'll just create new legacy waste. Hope Assam keeps the momentum. 💪
Good initiative but I'm skeptical. In many Assam towns, waste collection is still irregular and dumping sites remain unmanaged. Also, the focus seems too much on legacy waste rather than preventing new waste generation. Need more emphasis on reduce, reuse
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