Mon Feb 03 16:25:04 UTC 2025: ## Kerala on Track to Eliminate Garbage Heaps by March: Minister
**KOCHI, February 3, 2025** – Kerala is poised to eliminate its major garbage heaps by the end of March, according to Minister for Local Self-Government M.B. Rajesh. Speaking at the Brahmapuram solid waste treatment plant in Kochi, he announced that a compressed biogas (CBG) plant at the site will be commissioned by March-end, significantly boosting waste processing capabilities. The plant, built in record time under the supervision of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), will process 150 tonnes of waste daily, producing 15 tonnes of biogas for the BPCL-Kochi Refinery.
The Minister highlighted the progress of bio-mining at Brahmapuram, where 75% of the legacy waste (6.08 lakh tonnes out of 8.43 lakh tonnes) has been cleared, reclaiming 18 acres of land. This reclaimed land will be used for the new CBG plant and a bio-park. Similar CBG plants are planned for Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode, with discussions underway for Kannur, Kollam, and Changanassery.
The state-wide “Malinyamuktha Keralam” (Waste-Free Kerala) campaign has seen remarkable progress. Twenty-four out of 59 major waste heaps have been cleared, and land reclamation is underway at ten more locations. Door-to-door waste collection has increased to 93.62%, and the number of Material Collection Facilities has risen from 2 to 60 in the past year. Over Rs. 1.39 crore in fines has been levied for violations. The government plans a two-month intensive campaign to combat illegal dumping, with increased inspections and stricter penalties. The Minister expressed confidence that Kerala will be free of major garbage heaps within months.
First Piper 