Press Release
Press Release from SBM-U Urban Development Department
Information & Public Relations Department
Gangtok,June 21: The team of officials led by the Secretary, Urban Development Department, Shri M.T. Sherpa visited an ongoing biomining work site at Martam landfill, today. The team also consisted of Principal Chief Engineer, Chief Engineers, Mission Director-SBM-U, officials from RDD and UDD.
The purpose of the visit was to inspect the progress of ongoing work as well as sensitize the officials on the subject of garbage management, process of their handling and risk posed by them if not disposed of scientifically.
The biomining work at Martam landfill had commenced at the behest of State Government through Urban Development Department in January 2024. However, despite various constraints, such as flash floods, road closers and inclement weather conditions, the work has been progressing satisfactorily. The exercise carried out by the Government is first of its kind in the State involving tedious process of using biological methods to excavate, segregate and process old waste deposits found in the landfill.
This method aims to reduce volume of waste, recover resources, improve land use and mitigate environmental impacts. The process of excavation, treatment, segregation and gainful utilisation of aged municipal solid waste duly following the standards and specifications prescribed by the Central Pollution Control Board and Solid Waste Management Rules 2016 is termed as biomining.
A total of more than two lakh tonnes of legacy waste is being biomined at Martam landfill. The landfill receives household garbage from Gangtok Municipal Corporation, Rangpo, Singtam and Mangan Nagar Panchayats, apart from other peri urban and rural areas. The daily garbage generated/collected is more than 68 MT per day and with rapid urbanization and ever-increasing tourists in flow, the handling of day-to-day garbage is becoming a daunting task for municipal bodies. With the technological intervention, behavioural change among citizens and proper training of employees working in garbage management, it is expected that the State will soon be able to achieve zero waste situation. Currently a large quantity of RDF (Refused Derived Fuel) is being transported to cement factories outside the State and the certified good earth is being proposed to be used in farm and forestry purposes.
Secretary expressed satisfaction over the work progress and instructed concerned officials and contractor to ensure safety of the workers by providing them proper protective gear and conducting frequent medical checkups. The Department is planning to organize visit of landfill shortly for municipal bodies, officials and organizations to promote peer learning and bring awareness on solid waste management.
The purpose of the visit was to inspect the progress of ongoing work as well as sensitize the officials on the subject of garbage management, process of their handling and risk posed by them if not disposed of scientifically.
The biomining work at Martam landfill had commenced at the behest of State Government through Urban Development Department in January 2024. However, despite various constraints, such as flash floods, road closers and inclement weather conditions, the work has been progressing satisfactorily. The exercise carried out by the Government is first of its kind in the State involving tedious process of using biological methods to excavate, segregate and process old waste deposits found in the landfill.
This method aims to reduce volume of waste, recover resources, improve land use and mitigate environmental impacts. The process of excavation, treatment, segregation and gainful utilisation of aged municipal solid waste duly following the standards and specifications prescribed by the Central Pollution Control Board and Solid Waste Management Rules 2016 is termed as biomining.
A total of more than two lakh tonnes of legacy waste is being biomined at Martam landfill. The landfill receives household garbage from Gangtok Municipal Corporation, Rangpo, Singtam and Mangan Nagar Panchayats, apart from other peri urban and rural areas. The daily garbage generated/collected is more than 68 MT per day and with rapid urbanization and ever-increasing tourists in flow, the handling of day-to-day garbage is becoming a daunting task for municipal bodies. With the technological intervention, behavioural change among citizens and proper training of employees working in garbage management, it is expected that the State will soon be able to achieve zero waste situation. Currently a large quantity of RDF (Refused Derived Fuel) is being transported to cement factories outside the State and the certified good earth is being proposed to be used in farm and forestry purposes.
Secretary expressed satisfaction over the work progress and instructed concerned officials and contractor to ensure safety of the workers by providing them proper protective gear and conducting frequent medical checkups. The Department is planning to organize visit of landfill shortly for municipal bodies, officials and organizations to promote peer learning and bring awareness on solid waste management.
