LUDHIANA: Under fire for failing to treat legacy waste within the stipulated deadline, civic officials are now about to begin the process of bioremediation of 5 lakh metric tons at the main Tajpur Road garbage dump. Gradually, they plan to complete the second phase, under which 8 lakh metric tons of legacy waste will be treated. The remaining 8 lakh metric tons of waste will be taken up in the third phase. The civic body surveyed 21 lakh metric tons of legacy waste at the dump to increase the pace of bioremediation on the site.
Officials claimed that they had to carry the processes forward simultaneously as it would take at least two years to treat five lakh metric tons of waste. Five lakh metric tons of waste is being treated under the Smart City Mission while the next phase will be taken up under the Swachh Bharat Mission, for which a proposal has been submitted.
The mountainous piles of legacy waste are not only inviting fire incidents at the dump but are also a major source of pollution.
Additional MC commissioner Aaditya Dachawal said, “We conducted a meeting on the issue and discussed the matter in detail. We can get funds under Swachh Bharat Mission, so we will go ahead with projects in two shifts and try to complete the task on time.”
What is bioremediation
Bioremediation is a waste management process in which live organisms are used to neutralise pollutants.
