2.16 crore MT waste cleared, 100 acres reclaimed at 3 landfills: Delhi CM Rekha Gupta

New Delhi, Aug 30 (IANS) Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said on Sunday that the government’s scientific approach towards clearing mountains of garbage at Okhla, Bhalswa and Ghazipur has, so far, seen the processing of around 2.16 crore metric tonnes of waste and the reclamation of 100 acres of land. 

“This has helped provide a cleaner and better environment for people living in areas close to landfills,” she said.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said that garbage mountains had remained a major problem for the people of Delhi for years.

Her government had promised to remove them and worked towards fulfilling that commitment through a scientific roadmap, dedication and a time-bound approach.

The government has not only focused on clearing the existing garbage mountains but has also planned to ensure that such a situation does not arise again in the future, she said.

The Chief Minister said that around 70 lakh metric tonnes of waste have been processed at Okhla, reclaiming 35 acres of land. At Bhalswa, around 102 lakh metric tonnes of waste have been processed and 45 acres of land reclaimed.

Similarly, around 44 lakh metric tonnes of waste have been processed at Ghazipur, reclaiming 20 acres of land, she said.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said that the work to clear the garbage mountains is not limited to removing waste, but is also having a positive impact on the lives of people living in these areas.

Those who pass through these areas every day can now see a better environment, while the quality of life of people living nearby is also improving, she said.

A cleaner and better environment will help promote a healthier lifestyle. Reclaiming such a large stretch of land from garbage mountains in the national capital is a significant achievement, she said.

The Chief Minister said that the inert material recovered after processing waste at Ghazipur is also being put to use. It has been used for filling low-lying areas and preparing the base beneath roads.

This has ensured not only the scientific processing of waste but also the utilisation of material recovered through the process, she said.

The government’s working model is not limited to addressing the problem at hand but also involves planning for future requirements. In this direction, preparations have been completed for setting up four new Waste-to-Energy plants in Delhi, she said.

The Chief Minister said that once these plants are ready, Delhi will develop the capacity to process the waste generated every day at the same pace, ensuring that waste does not continue to accumulate and turn into new garbage mountains.

The government’s goal is to ensure that as much waste as Delhi generates every day is processed on a daily basis, she said.

--IANS

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