Kerala Reclaims 121 Acres as Legacy Waste Remediation Advances

Kerala has reclaimed roughly 121 acres of land after processing about 15.45 lakh tonnes of legacy waste from dump sites across the State, as of July 2026.

Of the 59 legacy dump sites identified in Kerala, scientific remediation has been completed at 29. Work is under way at 20 sites, while it has not yet begun at the remaining 10. The 30 sites still awaiting completion hold an estimated 4.1 lakh tonnes of waste requiring remediation.

According to estimates by the Department of Local Self Government, about 3.3 lakh tonnes remain unprocessed at the 20 sites where biomining is in progress.

The latest assessment suggests the remediation timeline is likely to be exceeded at most of these sites. Senior department officials attributed the slippage to adverse weather, including prolonged rainfall, which disrupted work. They noted that the process depends heavily on suitable conditions, as it involves excavation, segregation and drying of organic material.

A status report on biomining submitted to the Principal Bench of the National Green Tribunal in August 2026 said continuous rain had rendered internal haul roads inaccessible, raised the risk of slope instability within legacy waste heaps and created unsafe conditions for workers. It also cited administrative delays in work arrangement procedures caused by the State Assembly elections.

Kochi Corporation Mayor V. K. Minimol said the council has directed the agency handling biomining at the Brahmapuram dump site to adhere to the current schedule. The agency has been asked to finish remediation within six months, with completion expected by May 2027, she said.