Ranchi's Jhiri Dumpsite Sees Major Progress in Legacy Waste Clearance
In a significant development for urban cleanliness, the Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) has announced that approximately 14.35 lakh metric tonnes of legacy waste have been processed at the 33-acre Jhiri dumpsite. This accounts for nearly 80% of the estimated 18 lakh metric tonnes of accumulated waste, marking a crucial step in the city's waste management efforts.
Project Overview and Recent Inspection
The progress was highlighted during a recent inspection by senior civic officials, who reviewed on-ground operations and urged agencies to expedite the remaining work. An official statement from RMC confirmed, "Around 14.35 lakh metric tonnes of waste have been processed so far, with the remaining to be cleared in a time-bound manner." The inspection focused on accelerating operations to clear the bulk of the waste before the monsoon season, with directives issued to prevent fresh dumping in cleared areas.
Bio-Mining Process and Execution Details
The Rs 92-crore project, executed by Guru Ramdas Construction, employs a bio-mining process that scientifically segregates old waste into refuse derived fuel (RDF), bio-soil, and inert material. This is achieved using heavy machinery, conveyor belts, and screening systems. RDF is sent for co-processing, while inert material is utilized for low-lying landfills, promoting sustainable waste disposal.
Timeline Challenges and Accelerated Pace
Initiated in 2024 with a planned timeline of 24 months, the project faced initial setbacks due to logistical constraints and weather disruptions. By early 2025, only about 60,000 metric tonnes had been processed. However, recent months have seen a significant boost in pace after scaling up machinery from four units to more than a dozen, enhancing daily processing capacity. Municipal commissioner Sushant Gaurav noted, "The company has a tenure of 24 months. Due to rainfall and other reasons, nearly eight months of work could not progress properly, which impacted the timeline. The work is now moving at a better pace with increased capacity."
Extension and Future Directions
In response to the delays, RMC officials have granted the executing agency a one-year extension to complete the remaining work. This decision aims to ensure thorough clearance of the dumpsite, aligning with broader environmental and public health goals. The secondary collection agency has also been instructed to maintain cleared areas and prevent re-dumping, emphasizing long-term sustainability.
This initiative underscores Ranchi's commitment to addressing legacy waste issues through advanced technological solutions and strategic planning, setting a precedent for other cities grappling with similar challenges.
