Bengaluru: Raichur in Karnataka has transformed the 35-acre Yakalaspura dumpsite into an emerging green asset after scientifically processing 62,252 metric tonnes of legacy waste under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0.
The initiative has so far helped reclaim nearly 22 acres of urban land, which was earlier occupied by decades-old municipal waste and posed environmental and public health concerns.
The dumpsite had generated problems including foul odour, leachate and pollution. The Raichur City Corporation undertook scientific remediation to clear the accumulated waste and restore the site for productive use.
60,000 saplings planted for Miyawaki forest
The reclaimed land is now being converted into an ecological space, with a 5–7-acre Miyawaki forest being developed as part of the “Toxic Waste to Ecological Wealth” initiative.
Plantation work began on June 5, 2026, and around 60,000 saplings have been planted. Bamboo and other native species are being used to improve soil quality, enhance biodiversity, absorb carbon and improve air quality.
The project is being implemented in collaboration with the Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Ltd (SPMCIL) and New India Space Limited.
The transformed site was inaugurated on World Environment Day, June 5, by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
The Yakalaspura project is being showcased as a model of how legacy dumpsites can be scientifically remediated and converted into productive green spaces, supporting cleaner and more sustainable urban development.