The Hindu 11.11.2009
Need to sensitise people on garbage dumping stressed
Staff Reporter
| PCB and AU hold workshop on solid waste management |
Commissioner lists problems in garbage lifting AU to introduce certificate course in solid waste management
VISAKHAPATNAM: Municipal Commissioner B. Sridhar on Tuesday underscored the urgent and growing need to sensitise the denizens on proper ways for dumping garbage. He was speaking at a workshop on ‘municipal solid waste management’ conducted jointly by AP Pollution Control Board (APPCB), Visakhapatnam Zonal Office, and Andhra University at the Platinum Jubilee Guest House here.
Mr. Sridhar said of 800 to 900 tonnes of garbage being generated daily in the GVMC limits, only 85 per cent was being collected by the civic authorities. The remaining 15 per cent was being dumped by the households on the roads, drains and other public places. The Commissioner, who spoke at length on the problems encountered in lifting garbage after Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation was upgraded into Greater Visakha Municipal Corporation in 2005 by extending its jurisdiction to 550 square kilometres, stated that the per capita garbage generation was 200 to 300 grams per day.
Expressing satisfaction over introduction of dustbin free areas in 10 wards in the GVMC limits as a pilot project, he said as per Municipal Solid Waste Management Rules, after categorising various types of garbage – domestic, industrial, commercial and hospital – scientific method should be followed for disposal.
He admitted that at present, garbage collected by GVMC was being dumped at Kapulauppada on the city outskirts and due to development of Madhurawada as a satellite township, there were requests to shift the dumping yard to a distant place.
Andhra University Vice-Chancellor B. Satyanarayana said the university would introduce a certificate course in solid waste management. Environmentalist T. Shivaji Rao also spoke.
