IAS Swapneel Paul Makes Tinsukia (Assam) Northeast’s First Legacy Waste-Free District

IAS Swapneel Paul is a 2018 Batch Officer of Assam cadre and is currently posted as District Commissioner of Tinsukia, Assam. His vision for the district focuses on transforming Tinsukia into a model district where waste management, conservation,sustainability and livelihood generation go hand in hand to empower community.

One of his key initiatives towards this is the elimination of 1.53 Lakh MT Legacy Waste through biomining and bioremediation ,making Tinsukia the first district in the North East to be legacy waste free. “We cleared waste hillocks that had accumulated near town areas, reclaimed the land, and completed the project within a year,” he stated.

Another hallmark of his effective governance was achieving a breakthrough in a two-decade old law and order issue “We have rehabilitated 163 families from Laika in Dibru-Saikhowa National Park to better areas in Namphai RF,” he explained.

His commitment has earned him praise and recognition at both the state and national level .In 2024 he was honoured with the Assam Karmashree Award for successfully rehabilitating these families.

In a conservation effort,Paul took action to protect the endangered Hoolock Gibbons (a kind of ape) of Barekuri,which were frequently electrocuted due to uninsulated electric wires passing through villages. “We installed nearly 20 km of insulated wiring, eliminating the risk entirely," he said. This initiative was also recognized in Mann Ki Baat by the Hon’ble Prime Minister.

In addition to this,Paul is leading the 'Weed to Wealth' initiative,turning an environmental challenge into an economic opportunity.This initiative focuses on converting water hyacinths into useful products. “Through women’s self-help groups (SHGs), this project is creating sustainable income opportunities for households.” he remarked.