The Thanjavur City Corporation plans to convert its 28-acre garbage dump at the Chekkadi compost yard into an eco-park under the CITIIS 2.0 programme by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

The project involves bio-capping around 2 lakh cubic metres of legacy waste at an estimated cost of $3.6 million. This will include leveling mounds, adding soil layers, and installing systems to prevent groundwater contamination.

A Waste Processing Facility (WPF) worth $2.4–$3.6 million will also be established to handle non-biodegradable waste. Additionally, 12 existing and six proposed micro-composting centres will convert wet waste into manure, while a Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) unit will turn combustible waste into fuel.

Thanjavur received a $16.2 million grant under the CITIIS 2.0 initiative as part of the Smart Cities Mission. It is among 18 cities selected nationwide and one of two from Tamil Nadu, alongside Madurai.

The funding agreement was formalized during the 12th Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum in Asia and the Pacific on March 5.

The project also includes introducing 200 battery-operated vehicles for door-to-door waste collection. An additional $3.6 million from other sources, including the state government, will support the initiative.

The project is expected to be completed within two years, with Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) currently under preparation.