New Delhi, 18 August (H.S.): A 35-acre garbage mountain at Yaklasapura in Karnataka’s Raichur city has been scientifically cleared and transformed into a green zone, reclaiming valuable urban land and addressing a long-standing environmental challenge.

According to the Union Ministry of Urban Development, 62,252 metric tonnes of legacy waste were processed and disposed of during the remediation exercise, enabling the recovery of nearly 22 acres of valuable urban land.

A Miyawaki forest is now being developed on the reclaimed land. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurated the site on World Environment Day on June 5, 2026, following which plantation activities began. So far, around 60,000 saplings have been planted, including bamboo and other native species.

The plantation is expected to help improve soil quality, enhance carbon sequestration, support biodiversity and improve air quality. The entire area is expected to be covered with vegetation over the next year.

The Raichur City Corporation implemented the project with the vision of transforming “toxic waste into ecological wealth.” The initiative received support from the Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Limited (SPMCIL) and New India Space Limited, along with local authorities.

The site had previously been a major source of inconvenience and pollution for residents in surrounding areas. The accumulated waste generated foul odours, while leachate from the dump contaminated the surroundings and contributed to environmental pollution.

The transformation has now turned the former dumping ground into a potential model for urban waste management, demonstrating how legacy waste sites can be scientifically remediated and converted into valuable green spaces for cities.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar