The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has ramped up its bio-mining efforts at the Kodungaiyur dump yard, with a significant push to complete most preliminary work before the onset of the northeast monsoon. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to manage and process the city’s waste more effectively and sustainably.

A senior GCC official elaborated on the progress, stating, “Legacy waste removal and material drying are underway at the landfill. Water will be segregated and disposed of through machines. With bio-mining active in two major dumping grounds, tenders for fresh waste processing centers have been called to prevent future waste deposits. We aim to process all city waste by 2030.”

The bio-mining project at Kodungaiyur is managed in six packages by three contractors, aiming to reclaim 250 acres of landfill space. According to the official, “90% of the reclaimed land will remain as open space with minimal development, while 10% will house essential processing plants. There are plans to convert the area into a park or play area with a pond.”

The GCC has also issued a tender for the construction of processing plants at the site, a crucial step towards preventing the future accumulation of waste. The bio-mining project is designed to be completed within two years, but there is a concerted effort to finish most preliminary work before the northeast monsoon to avoid delays.

By segregating and properly disposing of materials, the project aims to retrieve the original land at Kodungaiyur, transforming it into a valuable public space. This initiative is a part of GCC’s long-term vision to handle all of Chennai’s waste by 2030.