DRAP, UiWIN to Clear India’s Dumpsites by 2026

Union minister Manohar Lal Khattar launched the Dumpsite Remediation Accelerator Programme (DRAP) and the Urban Investment Window (UiWIN) at the National Urban Conclave 2025 in New Delhi, positioning both as pillars for cleaner, investment-ready cities under the ‘Viksit Bharat @2047’ vision. DRAP targets elimination of legacy waste in mission mode by September–October 2026, while UiWIN seeks to mobilise private and multilateral capital for urban infrastructure.

Mission-Mode Dumpsite Remediation

DRAP will fast-track clearance at 214 high-load legacy landfills across 202 Urban Local Bodies, which together hold about 8.8 crore tonnes—nearly 80% of India’s remaining legacy waste. Overall, 1,428 sites are under remediation nationwide. Cities must prepare micro-action plans for each dumpsite, ensure no fresh tipping post-remediation, and earmark the reclaimed land for community and public uses.

Funding, Incentives and Land Recovery

The Centre has provided ₹550 per tonne as financial assistance for waste remediation. To date, ₹4,181 crore has been released for projects worth ₹10,228 crore, benefiting 2,484 ULBs across 28 states and UTs. So far, 1,048 of 2,476 dumpsites—holding about 25 crore tonnes—have been remediated, unlocking nearly 7,580 acres for productive reuse, from green buffers to civic amenities.

Priorities, 5P Framework and Monitoring

Under DRAP, larger landfills receive priority attention and real-time tracking via a dedicated portal. Implementation will follow a 5P approach—political leadership, public finance, public advocacy, project management and partnerships. Khattar urged public representatives to “adopt” landfills and tap CSR and state resources. At Delhi’s Bhalswa site, 4.8 lakh tonnes have been neutralised in roughly 2.5 months; another 40 lakh tonnes are slated for clearance within a year, potentially freeing around 70 acres.

Exam Oriented Facts

• DRAP targets legacy waste clearance at 214 landfills holding ~8.8 crore tonnes.
• Central support: ₹550 per tonne; ₹4,181 crore disbursed against ₹10,228 crore projects.
• Remediated so far: 1,048 dumpsites (~25 crore tonnes), ~7,580 acres reclaimed.
• 5P framework and DRAP portal to drive priority, partnerships and real-time monitoring.

UiWIN: Crowd-In Capital for Urban Projects

Anchored by HUDCO, UiWIN is a one-stop platform to attract private capital and concessional, long-tenor finance from multilaterals such as the World Bank and ADB. It will scale PPP-based urban projects across solid waste management, mobility, water-sewerage and climate-resilient infrastructure, aligning city pipelines with investors and accelerating India’s next phase of sustainable urban renewal.