Renowned industrialist and Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra has praised Chennai for a significant achievement in urban waste management. He lauded the successful cleanup of the Perungudi dump yard, where waste had accumulated for nearly 50 years, using bio-mining technology. In a social media post on X on Monday, Mahindra described the effort as a source of optimism for waste management initiatives across the country.
Sharing the development under the hashtag #MondayMotivation, Mahindra wrote that Chennai had cleared the Perungudi dump yard with the help of bio-mining technology developed by Blue Planet Environmental Solutions. “If 50 years of garbage can be reclaimed, then there is certainly hope for India’s waste problem,” he said, adding that the project demonstrates the potential for many more such success stories. Mahindra also shared a video produced by The Better India, a post that has since drawn widespread appreciation from social media users.
What Is the Perungudi Project?
Located in Perungudi, Chennai, and spanning nearly 250 acres, the Perungudi dump yard served as one of the city’s primary urban waste disposal sites for several decades. Over time, close to 30 lakh tonnes of garbage accumulated at the site, creating a significant environmental and public health challenge.
To tackle this issue, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) launched a large-scale bio-mining project in 2022, investing approximately ₹350 crore. The initiative employed advanced bio-mining technology developed by Blue Planet Environmental Solutions to scientifically process and reclaim the legacy waste.
As part of the project, the accumulated garbage was excavated and segregated into different material categories. Plastics, glass, metals, stones, and soil were separated and recycled for reuse. Plastic waste was repurposed into furniture and pallets, glass was recycled into bottles, metals were reused for utensils and hardware, and stones were processed into concrete slabs.
Through this effort, around 96 acres of land were successfully reclaimed. However, a recent survey identified an additional 5.5 lakh tonnes of legacy waste at the site, prompting the GCC to issue fresh tenders for its removal. Composting centres are currently being developed on the restored land to support sustainable waste management practices.
Overall, the transformation of the Perungudi dump yard stands as a compelling example of how bio-mining and innovative waste management can convert long-standing environmental liabilities into opportunities, offering a model for cities across India to emulate
