DRAP, UiWIN Launched to Clear Dumpsites by 2026

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: Mission-Mode Dumpsite Remediation

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,

• Prepare micro-action plans for each site
• Ensure no fresh waste tipping after clearance
• Allocate reclaimed land for public/community use

The deadline for full clearance has been set between September and October 2026.

Funding & Land Recovery

To support this mission, the central government is providing ₹550 per tonne as financial assistance for waste remediation. So far,

• ₹4,181 crore has been disbursed
• Funding supports projects worth ₹10,228 crore
• 2,484 ULBs across 28 states/UTs have benefitted

In terms of progress,

• 1,048 of 2,476 dumpsites have been cleared
• Roughly 25 crore tonnes of legacy waste removed
• Over 7,580 acres of urban land reclaimed for civic uses

These recovered lands are being transformed into green zones, public parks, and community infrastructure.

Priority Focus & 5P Framework

DRAP implementation will follow a 5P approach,

• Political leadership
• Public finance
• Public advocacy
• Project management

Partnerships

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.

UiWIN: Unlocking Urban Investment

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,

• Channel long-term, concessional finance
• Attract funding from the World Bank, ADB, and others

Scale PPP (Public-Private Partnership) projects in sectors like,

• Solid waste management
• Urban mobility
• Water and sewerage
• Climate-resilient infrastructure

UiWIN is aligned with India’s goals of creating self-sustaining, investment-friendly urban environments.