Guwahati, May 19 (IANS) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Tuesday that effective urban garbage management remains one of the lesser discussed achievements of his government, asserting that the state has already remediated 65 per cent of legacy waste in urban areas under the Swachh Bharat Mission.
In a post on social media platform X, the Chief Minister noted that the initiative was inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a cleaner India under the Swachh Bharat campaign.
“One of the lesser talked about aspects of our governance is how we’ve been able to do urban garbage management. Inspired by PM Narendra Modi Ji’s call of Swachh Bharat, we have remediated 65 per cent of legacy waste and are working towards achieving 100 per cent remediation,” CM Sarma said.
The Chief Minister also shared details of the state government’s waste management infrastructure and ongoing sanitation initiatives in Assam’s urban areas.
According to data shared by Chief Minister Sarma, the state has identified 54 legacy waste treatment plants across urban centres, of which 23 are already operational and in service.
The state government has also planned 33 faecal sludge treatment plants, with 20 currently operational.
Officials said the legacy waste remediation initiative is aimed at scientifically clearing old garbage dumps accumulated over several years in municipal areas and converting them into reusable or environmentally safe material through bio-mining and waste processing technologies.
The state government has been focusing on improving urban sanitation, waste segregation and scientific disposal systems as part of broader efforts to strengthen civic infrastructure in towns and cities.
Urban development department officials said several municipal bodies have also introduced door-to-door waste collection systems and awareness campaigns to encourage segregation of biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste at source.
The Assam government has repeatedly stressed that proper waste management and sanitation are essential components of sustainable urban development and public health.
Officials added that the remaining legacy waste sites are being taken up in phases and efforts are underway to achieve complete remediation across Assam’s urban areas in the coming months.
–IANS
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