Ever
since the Prime Minister Narender Modi has launched Swatch Bharat Mission to accomplish the vision of 'Clean India' by 2
October 2019, it has been taken up very enthusiastically by people of all walk
including media. The importance of sanitation in one’s own life and its impact
for community and environment does not require any further elaborations.
However the bigger question here is sustainability of this programme over a period
of time which Mr. Modi is expecting from
all of us.
The
main thrust areas under this programme aimed at are public places,
institutions, Bus Stands, railways stations, parks, streets and roads to name a
few, which we Indian keep filthy and full of garbage and waste of all the
kinds. Keeping all such places neat and clean is the responsibility of Local
bodies (Municipalities /Corporations/Nagar Panchayats) as per Municipal Solid
Waste (management & Handling) Rules 2000 with regulatory and monitoring responsibility
to State Pollution Control Boards.
In
India per capita average municipal solid waste production varies from 0.21 to
0.50 Kg per day and for approximately 388 million Urbanites the solid waste
generation is expected to increase from 34 million tonnes (2000) to 83.8
million tonnes ( 2015) and 221 million tonnes in 2030. Keeping the average
composition of Waste in view (app 50% organic, 8-10% paper, 7-8% Plastics and
rest others) at least half of the waste generated can be safely put to composting,
pelletisation etc., while the plastics and paper can be used for reuse and
recycling.
As
per the studies carried out by Central Pollution Control Board(CPCB) , the
compliance of handling of waste by local bodies
right from collection, segregation, transportation to processing and
disposal is not very encouraging. In fact there is no well-established official
system in place to ensure collection and disposal of recyclable and
biodegradable -waste in Municipalities and much of which depends on financial
condition of ULBs, initiatives both at political and executive level apart from
and access to technological interventions. It is also true that there are few
good examples of efficient and scientific waste management by local bodies,
which need to be replicated throughout the country.
So
how far it is correct to blame our municipalities for this state of affairs?
A
small initiative at individual level in this direction can contribute
significantly. Segregating biodegradable waste like food items, vegetable waste
etc., from non-biodegradable or recyclable waste mainly papers and plastics at
individual level not only reduces the burden of waste disposal to local
authorities but will help to improve the rapidly degraded sanitary conditions
of our streets and garbage dumps of towns.
Maintaining
two bin systems (one for bio-degradable or compostable waste and other for
recyclable waste) at Society level with active cooperation of Resident Welfare Societies
is the need of hour.
Sincere
attempts and actions to reduce the quantum of garbage by segregation at home
will surely go a long way in waste management initiative and assist in
contributing significantly towards Sanitation campaign.
Lets
start something…
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