Dumpsite Remediation Accelerator Programme (DRAP), 2025.

Policy Update
Gowri Kodali

Introduction

The increasing problem of legacy waste in India has necessitated an urgent need to focus on dumpsite remediation. The Government of India has set the target of “Lakshya Zero Dumpsites” to be achieved by 2026 under the Swachh Bharat Mission – Urban 2.0 (SBM-U 2.0). To hasten the progress, MoHUA launched the Dumpsite Remediation Accelerator Program (DRAP) in November 2025. DRAP is a dedicated one-year program with a goal to double the current pace of remediation at priority dumpsites through better site-level planning, oversight, and financial support (MoHUA, 2025a; MoHUA, 2025b).

To address this concentration, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) launched the Dumpsite Remediation Accelerator Programme (DRAP) in November 2025 (MoHUA, 2025b). DRAP is a year-long, targeted initiative designed to double the prevailing pace of remediation at these priority sites through enhanced site-level planning, oversight, and financial support (MoHUA, 2025a).

Background

Legacy waste represents years of accumulated, unsegregated municipal deposits. Unlike fresh waste, these mounds contain mixed, partially decomposed materials that require scientific excavation and separation. The environmental risks are substantial; unmanaged sites contaminate groundwater through leachate, degrade air quality, and release methane, a potent greenhouse gas, while posing chronic fire hazards and health risks to surrounding communities (PIB, 2026).

In 2021, the first edition of the “Garbage Free Cities” objective was launched under SBM-U 2.0. DRAP is an acceleration mechanism in this mission, particularly for high burden dumpsites where remediation requires more institutional coordination, financial support and technical oversight. The program aims to achieve full clearance of adopted priority sites within a year (MoHUA, 2025a).

Functioning

DRAP implementation is structured around the 5P framework: Political Leadership, Public Finance, Partnerships, People’s Participation, and Project Management (MoHUA, 2025a).

Political Leadership (Adoption Model): The programme utilizes a leadership-driven model where senior political and administrative leaders are encouraged to “adopt” priority dumpsites. This ensures high-level oversight and accountability. For instance, the Union Minister adopted the Bhalswa dumpsite in Delhi, where approximately 4.79 lakh MT of waste was remediated between 17 September and 6 November 2025 (MoHUA, 2025b).
Public Finance: DRAP supplements existing City Solid Waste Action Plans (CSWAPs) with additional funding for supplementary infrastructure and accelerated processing. CFA is disbursed based on city categories, typically covering 25% to 50% of project costs based on an estimated remediation cost of ₹550 per tonne (MoHUA, 2025a).
Partnerships: Cities are encouraged to establish technical and logistical partnerships. This includes advising State Public Works Departments and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to absorb inert materials for road construction, and engaging NGOs for community outreach (MoHUA, 2025a).
People’s Participation: Public advocacy focuses on the health and safety of SafaiMitras, drivers, and residents in the vicinity of dumpsites through health camps and awareness drives (MoHUA, 2025a).
Project Management: Each priority site must develop a micro-action plan detailing processing mechanisms, funding gaps, and land utilization plans. Monitoring is digitized via the Swachhatam portal, utilizing GPS, RFID, and digital cameras for vehicle tracking to ensure transparency in waste movement (MoHUA, 2025a).

Performance

Remediation is primarily achieved through biomining, a scientific process where excavated waste is spread in windrows and treated with bio-cultures to stabilize organic components (PIB, 2026). Once dry, the material is screened and segregated into distinct categories: recyclables, combustible fractions, and inerts (PIB, 2026).

The progress of dumpsite remediation can be assessed through achievements under SBM-U 2.0 and the specific targets established under DRAP. The following figures distinguish cumulative mission-level performance from the programme’s targeted remediation objectives (MoHUA, 2025a).

Indicator	Reported figure
Dumpsites fully remediated	1,138
States covered	29
Legacy waste processed	877 lakh MT
DRAP priority dumpsites	214
DRAP remediation target	8 crore MT
Target period	One year

Source: MoHUA (2025a). Figures represent different reporting scopes; DRAP’s 8 crore MT is a target, not an achieved outcome.

The DRAP monitoring framework also emphasizes digital tracking of remediation activities. The programme’s dashboard is intended to support progress monitoring at priority dumpsites, while the Swachhatam portal facilitates site-level reporting and oversight (MoHUA, 2025a).

The success of these operations depends on adherence to the Solid Waste Management Rules. These mandate that all dumpsites must be geographically mapped and assessed by October 2026 (MoEFCC, 2026). Furthermore, local bodies are explicitly prohibited from disposing of fresh waste at sites where biomining is actively underway to prevent the creation of new “garbage mountains” (MoEFCC, 2026).

Impact

Land reclamation is the most tangible outcome of the programme, with reclaimed land prioritized for new solid waste management (SWM) infrastructure or green cover (MoHUA, 2025a). At the Bhalswa site, 5 acres of the remediated 25 acres have already been converted into bamboo plantations (PIB, 2026).

Beyond land, the programme emphasizes circular economy principles through material recovery (PIB, 2026):

Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF): Non-recyclable combustible waste (plastic, wood, etc.) is processed into RDF for use in cement plants and waste-to-energy (WtE) units. Verified standards require RDF for WtE to maintain a calorific value of at least 1500 Kcal/kg, while cement plants require 3000 Kcal/kg.
Inert and C&D Waste: These fractions are repurposed for road embankments, tile manufacturing, and leveling low-lying areas, reducing the need for virgin raw materials (PIB, 2026).
Rejects: Only non-reusable residues are permitted to be sent to scientific landfills (MoEFCC, 2026).

Key Challenges

Despite progress, the programme faces significant institutional and technical hurdles.

Fresh-Waste Management: Acceleration efforts fail if fresh waste continues to accumulate. SBM-U 2.0 targets 100% source segregation and door-to-door collection to ensure that only processed or inert rejects reach landfills (PIB, 2026).
Environmental Protection: Excavation activities must manage leachate and fire hazards. Verified rules require landfills to utilize non-permeable lining systems (1.5 mm HDPE geo-membranes) and maintain gas control systems to ensure methane concentrations do not exceed 25% of the lower explosive limit (MoEFCC, 2026).
Long-term Monitoring: The process does not end with waste removal. Post-closure care for landfill sites must be conducted for at least 15 years, including groundwater monitoring and maintenance of the final vegetative cover (MoEFCC, 2026).
Municipal Capacity: The requirement for site-specific micro-action plans places a heavy administrative burden on ULBs, necessitating robust technical support and standardized tendering.

Way Forward

A few policy adjustments are recommended to sustain the momentum of DRAP and to contribute to Sustainable Development Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), especially Target 11.6 on reduction of adverse environmental impact of cities by improving municipal waste management:

Standardized Site-Closure Verification: Assessments should shift from simple tonnage processed to a comprehensive scorecard that includes environmental safety, leachate management, and the quality of reclaimed land (MoEFCC, 2026).
Granular Transparency: The DRAP public dashboard should clearly distinguish between national SBM-U figures and progress at the 214 priority sites to ensure targeted accountability (MoHUA, 2025a).
Market Links for RDF and Inerts: Establishing pre-approved arrangements with the construction and cement industries can prevent the accumulation of recovered materials at remediated sites (MoHUA, 2025a).
Strengthened Post-Closure Protocols: Rigorous enforcement of the 15-year post-closure care mandate is essential to prevent secondary pollution and ensure the safety of future land uses (MoEFCC, 2026).

Conclusion

DRAP represents a critical strategic shift from general waste management to the intensive remediation of India’s most burdened dumpsites. By combining political accountability through the adoption model with rigorous technical standards under the 2026 SWM Rules, the programme provides a viable pathway toward “Garbage Free Cities.” However, the durability of these gains depends on the strict prohibition of fresh-waste dumping at legacy sites and the consistent application of environmental safeguards during and after the remediation process.

References:

Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. (2025a). Concept note on Dumpsite Remediation Accelerator Programme. Government of India. https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/specificdocs/documents/2025/nov/doc2025118687601.pdf

Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. (2025b, November). Launch of Dumpsite Remediation Accelerator Programme. Government of India. https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/specificdocs/documents/2025/nov/doc2025118687701.pdf

Press Information Bureau. (2026, January 31). Lakshya Zero Dumpsite: India’s drive to eliminate city dumpsites under Swachh Bharat Mission. Government of India. https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/specificdocs/documents/2026/jan/doc2026131775201.pdf

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. (2026). Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026 (Gazette Notification S.O. 388(E)). Government of India. https://dste.py.gov.in/ppcc/pdf/waste_management/SWM/Rules/SWM_2026.pdf

About the Author

Gowri Kodali is a Research and Editorial Intern at the Impact and Policy Research Institute (IMPRI), with interests in public policy, governance, and socio-economic development.

Acknowledgement:

The author acknowledges the IMPRI team for its guidance and editorial support in the preparation of this policy update.

Disclaimer: All views expressed in the article belong solely to the author and do not necessarily represent the views or policies of the organisation.