Urban News

Business Standard 24.11.2009

Towns and cities, witnessing a growing population and change in both quality and quantity of their urban solid waste, are finding garbage disposal a major environmental issue. Garbage clearance and its disposal is becoming a herculean task with the volume of solid waste rising by the day.

The National Commission of Urbanisation (NCU) in its report has said small and medium-sized towns now have half the urban population and with it pressure is building on urban services. Presently, over 120,000 tonnes of solid waste is generated every day in the country. Concerned over the environmental problem, the Centre has effected the Solid Waste Management Rules 2000 covering local bodies as well.

Following this, the Karnataka government is guiding the implementation of the State Solid Waste Disposal Policy 2003 and the Directorate of Municipal Administration has enforced the Municipal Solid Waste Management Regulations in 56 local bodies under the ‘Nirmala Nagara’ scheme, associating NGOs and Sthree Shakthi groups.

These local bodies are engaged in bringing about an improved Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSWM) in their areas using modern vehicles, private participation and use of templates. A city corporation incurs an expenditure of Rs 950 per tonne and a town panchayat Rs 431 per tonne for their garbage disposal.

To create awareness among elected representatives and the communities involved on the efficient and effective collection, disposal and management of solid waste, including separation of solid waste at the source itself, workshops are being held at the local levels. Identified national and state-level resource persons are associated with the training programmes where trainees are being apprised of the Solid Waste Management Rules 2000, the state policy, time management, garbage, bifurcation, transportation and disposal, centralised management, success stories and an exchange of experiences.

Six months later, an evaluation of the workshop’s impact on waste management will be made to assess the progress within the jurisdiction of the urban local body (ULB).

The first two-day workshop for ULBs in Kodagu, Chamarajanagar and Mysore district held in Mysore on November 8-10 saw 69 participants including presidents, vice-presidents, working engineers and NGOs, along with commissioners and chief officers.

State Institute of Urban Development director P Sivasali said 17 training modules costing Rs 7 crore has been taken up in 214 ULBs. The present one was the first in line, with over 19 such workshops planned in the state.

Directorate of munic-ipal administration joint director (admn) B B Cau-very said, in spite of susta-ined government initiatives for over six years in line with the MSW Rules 2000, the response from the citizens was not up to mark.

By integrating the best of the state expertise, a World Bank Institute training module had been developed for the ULBs in Karnataka.

Mysore Mayor P Purushotham said, Mysore was awarded the first prize for its efforts in improving MSW in the city.

The Hindu 24.11.2009

Sanitary landfills planned at Sewage Farm

Shankar Bennur

— PHOTO: M.A. SRIRAM

Improving practices: Sanitary landfills will be set up at the Sewage Farm in Mysore to dispose of non-biodegradable wastes and residual inert matter generated by the compost facility.

MYSORE: After bagging the Icon City award for best solid waste management at the International Conference on Solid Waste Management (IconSWM) held in Kolkata recently, the Mysore City Corporation (MCC) is now gearing up to further improve its waste management practices.

The corporation, which has privatised solid waste management in 48 of the 65 wards, has proposed to establish sanitary landfills on a 35-acre plot at the Sewage Farm in J.P. Nagar here to dispose of non-biodegradable wastes and residual inert matter generated by the compost facility.

This long-pending project will be realised under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). The decks have been cleared to set up the facility with the Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India, giving its nod for the project estimated to cost Rs. 16 crore.

The corporation has decided to set up the facility on build, own, operate and transfer (BOOT) basis. The proposed facility has the capacity to dispose of waste for 17 years, sources in the MCC said.

However, following poor response to the tenders invited by it for executing the project, the corporation has now re-invited tenders to draw more bids. “The lone bidder last time had quoted a very high price. Therefore fresh bids have been invited,” the sources said.

But there are questions to be answered, such as how appropriate is it to establish landfills within the city limits? Are the provisions of the Municipal Solid Waste (Management and Handling) Act, 2000 being followed?

The sources said, “Landfills are not harmful since only non-hazardous waste will be disposed. Moreover, all necessary safeguards such as chemical treatment to prevent foul smell will be taken.”

The Act stipulates that sanitary landfills should not be established within city or town limits. But the Sewage Farm where the landfills are proposed is within city limits. Biodegradable waste collected from the city is treated at a compost plant located at the Sewage Farm.

The project was first proposed in 2003, but was delayed owing to unavailability of land. Though land was identified for the project at Bettadabeedu on H.D. Kote Road, it was not considered following objections from the Forest Department since the location was close to forests.

The sources said that the corporation was under pressure from the KSPCB to establish sanitary landfills at the earliest since the daily generation of solid waste was rising at a high rate with the growth of the city. Barring the local bodies of Mysore, Bannur and Periyapatna, other local bodies in the district have started disposing of municipal waste according to the stipulations of Act by establishing sanitary landfills outside the city or town limits.