29 January 2026·PIB

DUMP SITE REMEDIATION ACCELERATION PLAN

In this note

1. At a Glance

DRAP (Dumpsite Remediation Accelerator/Acceleration Programme) is a Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) initiative under Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban 2.0 (SBM-U 2.0) to fast-track scientific clearance of 214 legacy waste dumpsites accounting for ~80% of India's remaining legacy waste [1][2].
Aspirants must track it because it operationalises the "Lakshya: Zero Dumpsites" vision and links waste management to urban land reclamation, circular economy and SDG-11/12 [2].

PIB release dated 29 January 2026 updated national legacy-waste remediation status and reiterated DRAP's September 2026 deadline [1].
DRAP was launched in November 2025, with the Lakshya Zero Dumpsite drive flagged off thereafter [2].

SBM-U launched 2 October 2014; SBM-U 2.0 launched 1 October 2021 with legacy-waste remediation as a core vertical [2].
A national audit identified 2,488 dumpsites (>1,000 tonnes each) holding ~25 crore MT of legacy waste [1].
DRAP (Nov 2025) carved out the top 214 sites from this universe for accelerated action by Sept 2026 [1][2].
Predecessor models: Rajkot's bio-remediation of 16 lakh tonnes, converted into a 20-acre urban forest under SBM-U [3].

Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) [1].
Umbrella Mission: Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban 2.0 [2].
Universe: 2,488 legacy dumpsites; 25 Cr MT waste [1].
Progress reported (Jan 2026): 1,138 fully remediated; 1,020 in progress; 15.51 Cr MT (62%) waste cleared; 8,484.15 acres (56%) land reclaimed [1].
DRAP scope: 214 dumpsites, 200 ULBs, 30 States/UTs, ~8.6 Cr MT waste = 80% of residual legacy waste [1][2].
Deadline: September 2026 (per PIB 29 Jan 2026) / October 2026 (Lakshya target) [1][2].
Funding norm: ₹550 per tonne unit cost under SBM-U 2.0 operational guidelines; additional case-to-case central assistance against city micro-plans [2].
Methods: Bio-mining / bio-remediation (RDF, compost, inert separation) [3].

Environmental

Eliminates methane emissions, leachate contamination and surface fires at urban dumpsites [2].
Aligns with Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 (MoEFCC) mandate for scientific closure of dumpsites. Economic / Urban
Reclaims prime peri-urban land (8,484 acres so far) for parks, housing, infrastructure [1].
Cost-benchmarked at ₹550/MT — keeps fiscal outgo predictable [2]. Administrative / Federal
Centre funds and monitors; ULBs execute through DBOT/PPP tenders; micro-plans vetted by MoHUA [2].
Bottleneck: heterogeneous ULB capacity, land litigation, lack of off-take for RDF. Social
Rag-picker livelihoods and safai mitra suraksha intersect with remediation tenders [2]. Scientific / Technological
Bio-mining, trommel screening, RDF co-processing in cement kilns — demonstrated at Rajkot [3].

Nov 2025: DRAP formally launched by MoHUA with concept note targeting 214 sites [2].
29 Jan 2026: PIB status update — 62% legacy waste cleared, 56% land reclaimed [1].
Ongoing Lakshya: Zero Dumpsites campaign aimed at clearance by October 2026 [2].
Rajkot model showcased as replicable bio-remediation template [3].

DRAP nodal ministry: MoHUA, not MoEFCC [1].
Umbrella scheme: SBM-U 2.0 (launched 1 Oct 2021) [2].
Total identified legacy dumpsites: 2,488 (>1,000 tonnes each) [1].
Total legacy waste universe: ~25 Cr MT [1].
DRAP sites: 214; ULBs covered: 200; States/UTs: 30 [1][2].
DRAP share of remaining legacy waste: 80% (~8.6 Cr MT) [2].
Waste remediated nationally by Jan 2026: 15.51 Cr MT (62%) [1].
Land reclaimed: 8,484.15 acres (56%) [1].
Unit cost benchmark: ₹550 per tonne under SBM-U 2.0 [2].
Deadline: September 2026 (DRAP) / October 2026 (Lakshya Zero Dumpsites) [1][2].
Status dashboard hosted at sbmurban.org [1].
Flagship case study: Rajkot — 16 lakh tonnes cleared, 20-acre urban forest [3].

GS-II: Government policies and interventions — welfare/urban governance; Centre-State implementation.
GS-III: Environment & Pollution — solid waste management; Urban Infrastructure.
Probable stems:
"Discuss how DRAP advances the objectives of SBM-U 2.0 and the SWM Rules 2016. What capacity gaps at the ULB level constrain it?"
"Legacy dumpsite remediation is as much an urban land-use reform as an environmental intervention. Examine."
"Evaluate bio-mining as a scalable strategy for India's legacy municipal waste burden."

SBM-U 2.0 — parent mission and funding source.
Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 — statutory base for dumpsite closure.
Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 & EPR 2022 — adjacent waste stream.
Circular Economy Action Plan (NITI Aayog) — RDF, compost off-take.
AMRUT 2.0 — urban infrastructure complement.
National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) — dumpsite fires affect PM levels.
Swachh Survekshan — ranking framework rewarding remediation.
GOBARdhan / Waste-to-Energy — downstream utilisation of bio-mined fractions.

DRAP is under MoHUA, not MoEFCC or Jal Shakti — frequent confusion.
DRAP is a sub-component of SBM-U 2.0, not a standalone Act-based scheme.
"2,488" is the universe of dumpsites; "214" is the DRAP shortlist — do not conflate.
Deadline cited as Sept 2026 in DRAP PIB note; "Lakshya Zero Dumpsites" speaks of Oct 2026 — distinct framings.
Unit cost is ₹550/MT, not per cubic metre.