In a significant environmental achievement, Guwahati has successfully processed nearly 12 lakh tonnes of legacy waste that had accumulated at the former Boragaon dumping ground adjacent to the ecologically sensitive Deepor Beel Ramsar site. The massive cleanup operation has already reclaimed over 6 acres of valuable land through advanced biomining techniques.
Massive Waste Processing Achievement
Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah revealed in the Assam Assembly that approximately 11.93 lakh tonnes of legacy waste out of the total 15 lakh tonnes has been processed to date. The minister was responding to questions raised by AGP MLA Ramendra Narayan Kalita during the 'Special Mention' segment on the second day of the ongoing winter session.
The cleanup project has made substantial progress in reclaiming the contaminated land, with 6.36 acres (over 19 bighas) already recovered from the total project area of 40 acres (around 120 bighas). This represents a major step forward in restoring the environmental health of the area surrounding Deepor Beel, one of Assam's most important wetland ecosystems.
Project Implementation and Progress
The comprehensive legacy waste treatment project was initiated by the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) following the closure of the old Boragaon dumpsite in compliance with a Gauhati High Court order. The remediation effort specifically aims to protect Guwahati's natural environment, with particular emphasis on safeguarding the ecology of Deepor Beel.
The project commenced in 2022 with the engagement of North East Enviro Tech Private Ltd (NEET Pvt Ltd) to process 3.61 lakh tonnes of legacy waste in its initial phase. However, authorities later discontinued this contract and subsequently engaged Zigma Global Environ Solutions Private Limited the same year to handle the remaining waste.
Minister Mallabaruah informed the Assembly that Zigma Global Environ Solutions achieved remarkable progress, processing over 8.32 lakh tonnes of solid waste with a daily processing capacity of approximately 2,200 metric tonnes. This brought the total waste processed at the site to approximately 11.93 lakh tonnes.
Future Plans and Environmental Initiatives
The reclaimed land is set to undergo an ecological transformation with plans to establish an urban forest using the Miyawaki plantation method. This Japanese technique is renowned for creating dense, multi-layered forests in compact spaces and has previously proven successful in Guwahati when implemented at Borbari during 2023-25, where a barren hillock was converted into a thriving mini urban forest.
With the Boragaon facility now closed, Belortol has been designated as the current disposal site for municipal solid waste generated from Guwahati City. The GMC has already completed the first stage of the tendering process for handling accumulated waste at this new location.
The minister highlighted that the civic body has implemented numerous short-term and medium-term measures to protect the environment while maintaining regular waste management operations. These initiatives include establishing a compost and refuse-derived fuel (RDF) plant to handle fresh waste more sustainably.
In another promising development, Oil India Limited has approached GMC for collaboration to construct a biogas plant using fresh waste from Guwahati city. The initial steps for arranging suitable land for this project are currently underway, marking another step toward sustainable waste management solutions for the city.
