MoHUA Approves ₹860.35 Crore for Bengal’s Swachhata Infrastructure

The Union Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has sanctioned a substantial ₹860.35 crore to enhance urban cleanliness infrastructure in West Bengal under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0 (SBM-U 2.0). This allocation represents a significant increase from During the first phase of SBM-U (2014-19), ₹911.34 crore was provided, and the total amount for the period 2021-26 is now ₹1,449.30 crore.

MoHUA’s collaboration with West Bengal aims to make significant progress in waste management and sanitation despite the considerable challenge. There are 118 legacy waste dumpsites in the state, of which only 5% has been treated so far. The Dhapa landfill in Kolkata, a primary municipal dumping ground since 1987, is currently undergoing bio-mining and bioremediation. These processes, endorsed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), facilitate the extraction of usable materials from the waste, thus addressing the issue of legacy waste effectively.

West Bengal’s cities generate approximately 4,046 tonnes of municipal solid waste daily. In response, the state has proposed several projects under SBM-U 2.0, including the establishment of over 4,800 composting plants and 4,500 material recovery facilities (MRFs). To ensure the environmentally safe disposal of solid waste, the state has also proposed 2,216 secured landfill facilities (SLFs).

A significant thrust has been given to waste-to-energy initiatives, with the approval of 460 compressed bio-gas (CBG) plants. Additionally, proposals worth ₹217 crore have been sanctioned under SBM-U 2.0 for the remediation of legacy waste dumpsites across more than 100 urban local bodies (ULBs). To expedite these initiatives, the Government of India has released an additional tranche of ₹209 crore. This financial support aims to accelerate the proposed projects, ensuring the establishment of waste processing plants in all cities of West Bengal by 2026 under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban.

This comprehensive approach to waste management and sanitation under SBM-U 2.0 highlights the commitment to transforming urban infrastructure in West Bengal. The emphasis on advanced waste management methods, along with substantial financial investment, is projected to drive significant enhancements in urban cleanliness and environmental sustainability throughout the state.