Transforming Urban Spaces: Eliminating Garbage Dumps
Garbage Dumps and open dumpsites are being transformed rapidly to change and
beautify the urban landscape. Under Swachh Bharat Mission Urban 2.0 it was realised that transforming
garbage dumps in urban areas was the need of the hour to protect environment and reduce health risks.
Many States are taking creative steps to transform and
beautify these garbage sustainable development and a healthier, greener future. It has also created
avenues for waste
reduction, recycling, and reusing, helping in the sustainable use of resources.
Bhopal’s exemplary dumpsite remediation is an inspirational example of transformation of urban spaces.
Flagged off by Hon’ble PM Narendra Modi, the Vande Bharat Express travelling between Bhopal to Delhi
zooms past a dumpsite-turned-green zone in Bhopal. It was beautified after 37 acres of land was
reclaimed.
Navi Mumbai Making Urban Spaces Usable
In Mumbai, the space beneath the flyovers was being misused for illegal
activities such as parking, chemical tankers, abandoned vehicles, dumping of waste, and encroachment for
many years. The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) took an innovative approach to embark on an
ambitious plan to convert area under bridges/ flyovers into
community recreational facilities. An example of this can be seen in a public sports complex built under
the Sanpada flyover in Mumbai. A sports complex was created as per the height of the bridge, where a
basketball court, badminton court, box cricket zone, and skating rink were all painted in vibrant
colors, creating a visually appealing and attractive space. The complex was also equipped with safety
nets to ensure the safety of the players.
The success of the Sanpada flyover project has encouraged Navi Mumbai to plan and execute more such
projects in future. The Ghansoli-Talawale bridge has already received a facelift last year with new
paintings and lighting. This year, the area will be transformed into a garden and a seating area for
industrial workers. The second stretch of the Sanpada Bridge will have a yoga center, and the Seawoods
bridge will undergo a beautification drive along with a sports complex.
The once-neglected spaces have now become thriving centres of activity,
fostering social interaction, and promoting a healthy lifestyle among the residents. Not only has it
revitalized neglected areas, but it has also improved the health and well-being of citizens.
Surat’s Creative Initiative to Eliminate Garbage Dumps
Surat has undergone remarkable transformation in recent years. One of the
notable changes in the city has been the conversion of garbage dumps into seating areas for the public.
To eliminate garbage dumps, the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) transformed many of these points into
seating areas. They aimed to provide a clean and comfortable place for people to sit and relax while
helped in the reduction of garbage dumping spots in the city.
Under this initiative, Surat identified the garbage dumps and transformed them into seating area
equipped with benches, lights, and trash bins. It has also planted trees and shrubs to create a green
environment and promote biodiversity. ‘Sanjay Nagar circle’ is one of the few examples of these
transformations, where the garbage dump site has been converted into a beautiful seating area by SMC. To
maintain the cleanliness of this place, SMC has deployed one person at the location at 5 am to make sure
the citizens are not dumping their waste here. SMC ensures daily coverage of door-to-door garbage
collection from the surrounding area to ensure 100% waste collection.
Patna's Swachhata Journey: Garbage Points to Green Zones
Patna was struggling with the increasing number of garbage dumps for a long
time. To
transform these garbage dumps into green zones and promoting a sustainable environment, Patna Municipal
Corporation began a massive garbage dumps transformation drive in which a total of 630 garbage dumps
across the city were cleaned and beautified. The mass garbage dumps removal drive emerged as massive
development in the city.
The mass garbage removal drive was undertaken between December 2022 - January 2023. During the drive, a
survey was conducted on existing garbage dumps and the people who used to contribute in the formation of
these garbage sites. These offenders were listed in a unique "Kaalisoochi" and that list was displayed
at surveyed garbage dumps
in the respective wards.
The transformation drive was then conducted in 4 phases including 19 wards from each 19 zones of the PMC
jurisdiction. PMC officials conducted awareness activities in which they rallied in the wards playing
musical instruments and urging citizens to keep the city clean. The listed garbage dumps were cleaned
extensively and the corporation made an appeal to the residents to keep the city clean and wreathed the
offenders with garlands made out of disposable cups, bottles, wrappers and kitchen waste.
The Transformation of 630 Garbage Dumps
Patna Municipal Corporation began this massive transformation drive of
garbage
dumps by converting these sites into green zones. The cleaned-up spaces were beautified by planting
saplings, paintings, placing benches made out of discarded items like rubber tubes, tires, tins and
other plastic materials.
Many of the garbage points were also turned into selfie points. Later
PMC even
celebrated various festivals and events on the transformed garbage dumps including Litti Chokha
program
on New Year’s Eve, Dahi chura on Makar Sankranti and a Kite Festival which was inaugurated by
Deputy CM
Tejashwi Yadav.
The transformation of garbage dumps into beautiful urban spaces is an
excellent example of how innovative ideas and community engagement can help to address environmental and
social issues in cities. This process not only improves the quality of life for locals but also creates
a sustainable and green environment for all.
