Phase III of bio-mining project is under way at the Corporation dump yard at Ariyamangalam in Tiruchi.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
The third phase of biomining project at Ariyamangalam dump yard, the city’s largest solid waste disposal site, has gathered momentum, with Tiruchi Corporation expecting to complete the work ahead of the scheduled deadline.A study by National Institute of Technology (NIT) experts found about 7.7 lakh cubic metres of waste in the dump including the waste lying below the surface and the remaining legacy waste. In the third phase, about 6.17 lakh tonnes of waste is being processed at an estimated cost of ₹44.01 crore.The project is being implemented under the Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban 2.0, with financial contributions of ₹11.21 crore from the Central government, ₹7.47 crore from the State government, and ₹25.33 crore from the Corporation’s General Fund. An Erode-based agency that executed the first two phases of the biomining project has been entrusted with carrying out the third phase as well.Preliminary work on the project commenced in November 2025, while full-fledged operations began in May 2026 after electricity connections were provided. Although the project is scheduled for completion within the next two years, Corporation officials say the work will be finished ahead of the stipulated deadline. Around 1.30 lakh tonnes of waste have already been processed and removed under the ongoing phase. Nearly 100 metric tonnes of refuse-derived fuel (RDF) generated from the processed waste are being transported to cement factories, where they are used as an alternative to fossil fuels in kilns.According to Corporation sources, nearly 11 lakh cubic metres of waste were cleared during the first two phases of the biomining initiative. Phase I, launched in January 2019, processed about 7.6 lakh cubic metres of waste at a cost of ₹49 crore, while Phase II, implemented under the Smart Cities Mission at a cost of ₹25 crore, cleared another 3.3 lakh cubic metres. Together, the two phases enabled the Corporation to reclaim nearly 40 acres of the 47.7-acre dump yard.In addition, around 1.95 lakh metric tonnes of RDF generated during the first two phases were transported to cement manufacturing units for use as a substitute for conventional fossil fuels.Despite the progress in reclaiming the site, officials say the daily waste collected from households and commercial establishments continues to be dumped on reclaimed portions of the yard.Sources point out that much of the waste is not segregated at source, raising concerns that it could undermine the long-term restoration of the reclaimed land.Steps to establish a bio-CNG plant and an Automated Material Recovery Facility (AMRF) at the dump yard is under way. Once commissioned, the facilities are expected to improve the processing of fresh solid waste and reduce the need for dumping. Published - July 28, 2026 04:21 pm IST
