What are Legacy Waste Dumpsites?
Legacy waste dumpsites are locations where solid waste has been dumped over many years in an uncontrolled manner.
India has over 3,000 such sites, with 2,424 having more than 1,000 tonnes of waste.
Originally on city outskirts, many dumpsites are now in urban areas due to city expansion.
Approximately 15,000 acres of land is buried under about 16 crore tonnes of legacy waste.
What are the Health Hazards?
Exposure to emissions from these dumps can irritate the throat and mouth.
These sites emit harmful gases, including methane and carbon dioxide.
Breathing in methane can lead to nausea, vomiting, and coordination issues.
People living near dumpsites are at higher risk for diseases like tuberculosis, asthma, diabetes, and cholera.
Workers at landfills may develop skin allergies due to prolonged exposure.
What is the Swachh Bharat Mission?
Initiated on October 2, 2014, aimed at eliminating open defecation and improving sanitation in India.
The mission sought to create Open Defecation Free (ODF) villages by October 2019.
In 2021, SBM 2.0 was launched to make cities garbage-free by 2026.
Focus on source segregation of waste, door-to-door collection, and remediation of legacy dumpsites into green zones.
₹3,226 crore allocated for remediation efforts.
What has been the Progress So Far?
As of September 2023, 471 out of 2,424 dumpsites have been fully remediated.
Remediation for 1,226 sites has been approved and is in progress, while 727 sites remain untouched.
Of the 17,039.71 acres of dumpsites, only 27% has been reclaimed, with 73% still needing work.
Tamil Nadu leads with 837 acres reclaimed, while Gujarat has reclaimed 75% of its landfill area.
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