India has taken a bold step towards eliminating its massive legacy waste problem by launching DRAP (Dumpsite Remediation Accelerator Programme) and UiWIN (Urban Investment Window). Unveiled by Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar at the National Urban Conclave 2025, both initiatives are crucial components of the ‘Viksit Bharat @2047’ vision—a roadmap for transforming India’s urban spaces into clean, sustainable, and investment-ready cities.
DRAP is designed to fast-track the clearance of 214 high-load legacy landfills spread across 202 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs). These sites collectively hold around 8.8 crore tonnes of legacy waste, representing nearly 80% of India’s remaining dumpsite burden.
Nationally, 1,428 dumpsites are currently under remediation. Cities are expected to,
The deadline for full clearance has been set between September and October 2026.
To support this mission, the central government is providing ₹550 per tonne as financial assistance for waste remediation. So far,
In terms of progress,
These recovered lands are being transformed into green zones, public parks, and community infrastructure.
DRAP implementation will follow a 5P approach,
Additionally, a real-time DRAP monitoring portal has been launched for transparency and progress tracking. Larger landfills receive priority clearance, and local leaders are encouraged to “adopt” landfill sites to push progress using CSR funds and state resources.
For example, at Delhi’s Bhalswa landfill, over 4.8 lakh tonnes have been cleared in just 2.5 months, with another 40 lakh tonnes scheduled for remediation. This could free up 70 acres of valuable land within a year.
Running parallel to DRAP, the Urban Investment Window (UiWIN) has been introduced to mobilise private and multilateral capital for urban projects. Managed by HUDCO (Housing and Urban Development Corporation), it acts as a centralised platform to,
Scale PPP (Public-Private Partnership) projects in sectors like,
UiWIN is aligned with India’s goals of creating self-sustaining, investment-friendly urban environments.
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