Vision for Cleaner Cities
Dumpsite Transformation Drive for a Cleaner Urban India: Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar launched the Dumpsite Remediation Accelerator Programme (DRAP) and the Urban Investment Window (UiWIN) during the National Urban Conclave 2025 in New Delhi. These initiatives mark a major step toward realizing the ‘Viksit Bharat @2047’ vision by making cities cleaner and more investment-ready.
DRAP aims to eliminate India’s legacy waste by September–October 2026, while UiWIN will channel private and multilateral capital into urban infrastructure.
Static GK fact: The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) oversees India’s Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban (SBM-U), under which dumpsite remediation is a national priority.
Dumpsite Remediation in Mission Mode
The DRAP initiative will fast-track remediation of 214 high-load landfills across 202 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), together containing around 8.8 crore tonnes of legacy waste. Nationwide, 1,428 sites are under active remediation.
Cities must now prepare micro-action plans for each site, prevent fresh waste tipping, and repurpose reclaimed land for community facilities and public use.
Static GK Tip: India generates around 62 million tonnes of solid waste annually, of which nearly 31 million tonnes end up in landfills.
Funding and Land Recovery
The Centre provides ₹550 per tonne as financial support for waste remediation. So far, ₹4,181 crore has been released for projects worth ₹10,228 crore, benefiting 2,484 ULBs across 28 States and UTs.
Out of 2,476 dumpsites, 1,048 have been fully remediated, clearing approximately 25 crore tonnes of waste and reclaiming 7,580 acres of land. These lands are being reused for green zones, civic facilities, and renewable projects.
Static GK fact: The Bhalswa landfill in Delhi, one of India’s largest, is undergoing rapid remediation, with 4.8 lakh tonnes cleared in 2.5 months.
The 5P Framework for Accountability
DRAP follows a 5P framework—Political leadership, Public finance, Public advocacy, Project management, and Partnerships. This framework ensures sustained focus and stakeholder collaboration.
A dedicated DRAP portal enables real-time tracking of landfill clearance. Khattar urged local representatives to adopt landfill sites and leverage CSR funding for faster results.
UiWIN to Attract Urban Investment
The Urban Investment Window (UiWIN), anchored by HUDCO, aims to attract private capital and multilateral finance from agencies like the World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB).
It focuses on Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects in solid waste management, urban mobility, water-sewerage systems, and climate-resilient infrastructure.
By aligning urban project pipelines with investor networks, UiWIN seeks to accelerate sustainable city renewal and boost India’s urban economy.
Static GK fact: HUDCO (Housing and Urban Development Corporation Ltd.) was established in 1970 to provide long-term finance for housing and infrastructure development in India.
Static Usthadian Current Affairs Table
Dumpsite Transformation Drive for a Cleaner Urban India:
| Topic | Detail |
| Launch event | National Urban Conclave 2025, New Delhi |
| Key initiatives | Dumpsite Remediation Accelerator Programme (DRAP) and Urban Investment Window (UiWIN) |
| Target completion | September–October 2026 |
| Total legacy waste | Around 8.8 crore tonnes across 214 major landfills |
| Financial support | ₹550 per tonne |
| Funds released | ₹4,181 crore for ₹10,228 crore projects |
| Dumpsites remediated | 1,048 out of 2,476 |
| Land reclaimed | About 7,580 acres |
| Framework used | 5P (Political leadership, Public finance, Public advocacy, Project management, Partnerships) |
| UiWIN anchor institution | HUDCO |
