Mysuru City Corporation Ramps Up Legacy Waste Clearance Operations
The Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) has significantly intensified its comprehensive efforts to eliminate nearly 7 lakh tonnes of long-standing legacy waste accumulated at the Sewage Farm in Vidyaranyapuram, with a firm deadline set for the end of June. This massive environmental cleanup initiative, which commenced in March 2024, represents a critical step in addressing persistent public health and ecological concerns.
Substantial Progress and Accelerated Timeline
Officials report that by the end of January, approximately 4.2 lakh tonnes of waste had already been successfully cleared from the site. The MCC awarded this substantial contract to a specialized Surat-based company, which has been employing advanced bioremediation and biomining technologies to process the waste scientifically. The legacy waste, which had been piled across a sprawling 22-acre area, has been a source of significant distress for residents of Vidyaranyapuram, JP Nagar, and surrounding neighbourhoods, who have repeatedly reported health and environmental issues linked to the accumulation.
Despite Mysuru consistently securing top national rankings for urban cleanliness, the MCC has faced the formidable challenge of clearing this historical waste backlog, especially as the city continues to generate around 500 tonnes of fresh waste daily. The clearance work has progressed rapidly, with waste spread over 14 acres already processed. The company has now expedited operations to tackle the remaining waste covering the final 8 acres of the site.
Scientific Processing and Resource Recovery
The cleanup operation utilizes a methodical scientific approach. Through bioremediation and biomining, machines systematically separate the waste into soil, plastic, and metal components. Workers stationed at a temporary on-site camp are clearing an impressive average of 8,000 tonnes of legacy waste per day. The segregated materials are being put to productive use:
- The recovered plastic is transported to cement factories in Kalaburagi and Raichur, as well as to other facilities across the country, where it is utilized in cement production processes.
- Organic components from the waste are being converted into nutrient-rich compost manure.
- The MCC is repurposing the segregated soil for essential landfilling operations and various other civic infrastructure works.
Official Oversight and Future Plans
MCC assistant executive engineer Mohan, who is directly overseeing the clearance operations, confirmed that the company has completed work in five designated blocks, amounting to roughly 4.1 lakh tonnes of cleared waste. A total of six blocks have been identified for the project, with the final block now actively being addressed.
In an exclusive statement, MCC commissioner Syed Asif Tanveer assured that the legacy waste will be fully cleared by the June deadline. "Once the legacy waste is completely cleared, MCC plans to set up a CNG gas plant in collaboration with Bharat Petroleum Corporation at the site," he revealed. He noted that BPCL officials have already conducted preliminary soil tests as part of this forward-looking initiative.
Commissioner Tanveer also outlined a proactive strategy for ongoing waste management: "We also plan to clear the waste generated across the city on a daily basis without allowing it to pile up at the sewage treatment plant." This statement underscores a commitment to preventing future accumulations and maintaining Mysuru's reputation for cleanliness through sustainable, daily waste processing.
