DEPUTY Chief Minister and Minister of Urban Administration and Development Arun Sao on Thursday inspected the Sarona dump site and reviewed the ongoing waste disposal and bio remediation work. Expressing dissatisfaction over the slow pace of operations, he issued strict instructions to the executing agency to complete the work by March 31, 2026, warning that any negligence or laxity would invite stringent action. During the inspection, Arun Sao directed the agency to imme diately increase both machinery and manpower to expedite the remediation process. He emphasised that delays would not be tolerated, given the environ mental and public health implications associated with the site.

  

Secretary of Administration the Urban and Development Department Dr Basavaraju S, Mayor Meenal Choubey, Municipal Commissioner Vishwadeep and SUDA CEO Shashank Pandey were present during the visit. The Deputy Chief Minister instructed officials to prepare a detailed weekly work plan for close monitoring of the bio remediation process. He direct ed that regular progress reports be submitted to his office, the Mayor, the State Government and the CEO of the State Urban Development Agency. He also said that he would personally monitor the work through live feed, while directing the Raipur Municipal Corporation to review physical progress on a daily basis and ensure continuous monitoring through live feed and drone surveillance.

 

Speaking after the inspection, Arun Sao said that once scien tific and phased remediation is completed, the Sarona dump site will be developed into a green Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao along with Mayor Meenal Choubey and RMC Commissioner Vishwadeep inspecting Sarona Dump Site. area for the residents of Raipur. He stated that the site would be completely freed from waste and transformed into a model reme diated zone, contributing sig nificantly to strengthening the Swachh Bharat Mission and mak ing the capital city cleaner and more attractive. The Sarona dump site, spread across 28 acres, has been a major environmental and health con cern for nearly two decades, with city waste accumulating continuously.

 

Over the years, the site has caused problems such as groundwater contamination, foul odour, mosquito breeding and an unhealthy living envi ronment for nearby residents, making scientific intervention essential. Under a comprehensive plan, the Raipur Municipal Corporation has undertaken the scientific processing of around 4.5 lakh tonnes of legacy waste at the site. So far, approximate ly 4.3 lakh tonnes have already been bio-remediated, rendering large portions of the land usable again. The remaining waste is expected to be processed soon. Officials said that bio-remedi ation not only restores land usability but also generates use ful by-products such as refuse derived fuel, inert material and bio-soil, thereby promoting recycling and environmental protection. The initiative is part of Swachh Bharat Mission.