Raichur in Karnataka has transformed the 35-acre Yakalaspura dumpsite into an emerging ecological asset after scientifically processing more than 62,000 metric tonnes of legacy waste under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0 (SBM-U 2.0).
The initiative has so far enabled the reclamation of nearly 22 acres of urban land, which is now being put to sustainable use, including the development of a Miyawaki forest.
The Yakalaspura site had accumulated municipal solid waste over several decades, creating environmental and public health concerns for nearby communities. The accumulated waste occupied valuable urban land and posed risks from leachate, foul odour and pollution.
Recognising the need to address the long-standing problem, the Raichur City Corporation undertook scientific remediation of the legacy waste. The intervention resulted in the processing and remediation of 62,252 metric tonnes of waste, significantly reducing environmental risks and improving the surrounding landscape.
Following completion of remediation works, plantation activities began on June 5, 2026, with the reclaimed land being developed under the concept of “Toxic Waste to Ecological Wealth.”
The city corporation is developing a Miyawaki forest across around 5-7 acres of the reclaimed site in collaboration with the Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Limited (SPMCIL) and New India Space Limited.
Around 60,000 saplings have been planted at the site. The plantation includes bamboo and other native species, with the green cover expected to become established within a year.
The Miyawaki plantation is aimed at supporting soil restoration, carbon sequestration, biodiversity enhancement and improved air quality, while giving productive ecological use to land previously occupied by waste.
The transformed site was inaugurated on World Environment Day on June 5, 2026, by Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
The Yakalaspura project is being positioned as an example of how scientific legacy waste remediation can help cities reclaim valuable urban land and convert former dumpsites into environmentally sustainable spaces.
Under SBM-U 2.0, cities across the country are undertaking remediation of legacy dumpsites with the objective of creating cleaner, healthier and more sustainable urban environments.
Raichur’s initiative demonstrates how sustained urban governance, scientific waste management and ecological restoration can turn a long-standing waste challenge into a green public asset. The project could also serve as a model for other cities seeking to transform legacy dumpsites into productive and environmentally beneficial spaces.
