Aafrin Kidwai 
The National Mission on Himalayan Studies (NMHS) under the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change has approved a project titled “Integrated Scientific Solutions for Improving Legacy Municipal Solid Waste Management in the Indian Himalayan region” for a one-year pre-feasibility study and on-site demonstration. The project aims to mechanize landfills using advanced technologies to segregate legacy waste, recycle plastic waste, utilize construction and demolition waste, process biodegradable waste, and treat leachate from legacy waste. Member of Parliament from Darjeeling, Raju Bista, had requested the MoEFCC to approve the project on January 30. According to a press release by Bista, the project has been approved.
According to the statement released, the waste that has been segregated will be further processed and transformed into various useful products such as vermicompost from organic waste, flower pots from plastic waste, and bricks from construction waste. The implementation of the mechanized waste segregation system will reduce health hazards for workers at municipal landfill sites and increase the efficiency of waste segregation. The letter addressed to Raju Bista confirms that the Steering Committee has approved the proposal for a pre-feasibility study, which includes one site demonstration within a year and a budget of Rs 1.49 crore, Millenium Post.
