Northeast Desk, 22nd June: A team of high-ranking officials, led by M.T. Sherpa, Secretary of the Urban Development Department (UDD), inspected the ongoing biomining work at the Martam landfill on [date]. The team included the Principal Chief Engineer, Chief Engineers, the Mission Director of Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U), and representatives from the Rural Development Department (RDD) and UDD.
The visit aimed to evaluate the progress of the biomining initiative and educate officials on scientific garbage management, its processes, and the risks of improper waste disposal.
Launched by the State Government through the UDD in January 2024, the Martam biomining project is the first of its kind in the state. Despite facing challenges such as flash floods, road closures, and adverse weather conditions, the project has achieved satisfactory progress. This effort utilizes biological methods to excavate, segregate, and process old waste deposits at the landfill. The goal is to reduce waste volume, recover resources, improve land use, and mitigate environmental impacts.
Biomining involves the excavation, treatment, segregation, and utilization of aged municipal solid waste according to standards set by the Central Pollution Control Board and the Solid Waste Management Rules of 2016. At the Martam landfill, over two lakh tonnes of legacy waste are being processed. The landfill handles household waste from Gangtok Municipal Corporation, Rangpo, Singtam, and Mangan Nagar Panchayats, as well as other peri-urban and rural areas. With daily garbage generation exceeding 68 metric tonnes, and increasing urbanization and tourism, waste management has become a significant challenge for municipal bodies.
The technological intervention, combined with behavioral changes among citizens and proper training for garbage management employees, is expected to help the state achieve a zero-waste status soon. Currently, a substantial amount of Refused Derived Fuel (RDF) is being transported to cement factories outside the state, and certified good earth from the landfill is proposed for use in farming and forestry.
During the visit, Secretary Sherpa expressed satisfaction with the project’s progress and emphasized worker safety. He instructed officials and contractors to provide proper protective gear and conduct frequent medical check-ups for workers.
The Department also plans to organize visits to the landfill for municipal bodies, officials, and organizations to promote peer learning and raise awareness about solid waste management. This initiative is expected to foster greater understanding and implementation of effective waste management practices across the state.