Depalpur: Indore has taken Depalpur under its wing. From successfully implementing the rigorous 4-bin waste segregation system to clearing out 1,250 tons of legacy waste, the transformation is nothing short of incredible!
MoHUA stepped up capacity building and peer learning with Swachh Shehar Jodi, launched during Swachhata Hi Seva 2025. 72 mentor cities and 200 mentee cities have undertaken 1600 + activities in the urban waste management sector. This 100-day intervention is based on the Each One Teach One model and is the largest time-bound and structured mentorship framework in an urban waste management programme under SBM-U. Mentor and mentee cities have signed MoUs to foster knowledge transfer, peer learning, and replication of best practices. Cities are currently undertaking field visits and addressing gaps in SWM and UWM, keeping in mind best practices being shared by the mentor cities.
Depalpur’s journey to “Zero Legacy Waste”, reads like a triumph of collective will and scientific precision, under Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0. Under the Swachh Shehar Jodi initiative, Indore Municipal Corporation and Depalpur Nagar Parishad worked hand in hand to build a people‑driven waste management system. Door‑to‑door collection and segregation into four categories has now become routine. Once 100% coverage was achieved, the focus shifted to the daunting challenge of legacy waste.
The historic Surajkund Bawdi has been revived, streets are covered in vibrant wall art, and plastic-free zones are the new normal. Meanwhile, Indore continues its own grassroots upgrades with the inspiring ‘Basti Bemisal’ slum-transformation campaign.
Under the leadership of Mayor Shri Pushyamitra Bhargav and Commissioner IAS Kshitij Singhal, Depalpur achieved the complete remediation of its dumpsite, remediating 1,250 metric tonnes of waste that had accumulated over 5 years.
The scale of the operation in Depalpur was nothing short of remarkable. Over 500 ragpickers from Indore Municipal Corporation were mobilised, working shoulder to shoulder with Depalpur Nagar Parishad’s heavy machinery – dumpers, JCBs, and loaders – to dismantle years of accumulated waste. The process was meticulously planned: waste was segregated at the site into distinct streams, ensuring that every fraction was channelled to its rightful destination. From this effort, 4.5 tonnes of recyclables like plastic, metal, and glass were recovered and sold to authorised recyclers, while 50–60 tonnes of Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) were transported to the NEPRA plant in Indore, shredded, and then dispatched to cement factories for co‑processing. This seamless chain of collection, segregation, scientific processing, and authorised channelisation reflected discipline, efficiency, and a commitment to sustainability.
When remediation was declared complete, the dumpsite was no longer a scar on the landscape but a canvas for renewal. A plantation drive was launched, with 200 saplings planted by officials and public representatives, symbolising the rebirth of the land. The community gathered for a celebratory “Poha Party,” a gesture that turned the achievement into a shared moment of pride and ownership. Looking ahead, the site is set to evolve into a vibrant public space, envisioned as a hub for cricket matches, citizen engagement programs, and social gatherings like “Tiffin Party.” What was once a mound of waste is now poised to become a green, lively ground for community life, Depalpur’s testament to how determination and collective action can transform a dumpsite into a landmark of civic triumph. Depalpur has thus become the first city under the Swachh Shehar Jodi initiative to achieve “Zero Legacy Waste.” It is not just a milestone in sanitation but a story of how leadership, planning, and community participation can erase a dumpsite and replace it with green promise and civic pride.
