For years, a 100-acre landfill in Indore stood like a toxic mountain. Nearly 13 lakh tonnes of legacy waste smouldered day and night, affecting nearby homes and draining public funds. More than Rs 60 crore had already been spent on outsourced clean-ups, yet the garbage barely reduced.

When IAS officer Asheesh Singh took charge as Municipal Commissioner, he chose a different path. Instead of renewing contracts, the city adopted scientific biomining - a structured process to treat and segregate old waste. Bio-cultures reduced toxicity, machines screened layers of garbage, and recyclables like plastic and metal were recovered. Only 15% inert waste required final disposal.

The result surprised everyone. In just six months, the entire 13 lakh tonnes was cleared at a cost of under Rs 10 crore.

Today, the reclaimed 100-acre land is valued at nearly Rs 400 crore - a powerful example of smart governance over routine spending.