POONCH, NOVEMBER 30: Deputy Commissioner Vikas Kundal on Saturday inaugurated the Legacy Waste Bio-Mining and Land Recovery project at Shankar Nagar, Poonch, marking a significant step towards improving the region’s waste management practices and environmental health.
Bio-mining is an innovative and eco-friendly process that involves the excavation, treatment, and separation of legacy waste—municipal solid waste (MSW) that has been stored in landfills or on barren land for extended periods. The project aims to clean up the Shankar Nagar dumping site, which currently holds over 16,000 metric tons of waste, and recover approximately 4 acres of land that has been filled with waste over the years.
The bio-mining operation, contracted to M/s WeVOIS Labs Private Limited, a Jaipur-based firm, is set to be completed within two months at a cost of Rs 82.20 lakh. The initiative will not only reclaim valuable land but also address long-standing issues such as foul odors, leachate contamination, and the spread of diseases caused by the waste dump.
The project is expected to provide significant relief to local residents, who have long suffered from the environmental and health hazards associated with the site. The recovered land will be repurposed for developmental purposes, contributing to the overall improvement of sanitary conditions in the area.
In his address, Deputy Commissioner Vikas Kundal emphasized the importance of sustainable waste management and how such initiatives align with the district’s broader goals of environmental sustainability and public health improvement.