(a) whether the State Governments and the municipalities are equipped to handle all the solid wastes collected from Ganga river surface;
(b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
(c) the technical and financial assistance being provided by the Union Government in this regard; and
(d) the rules and procedures adopted for taking care of human and animal dead bodies found under Ganga cleaning?
THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS AND MINISTER OF STATE FOR WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION
(SHRI VIJAY GOEL)
(a) & (b) The Government has notified the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 for management and handling solid waste generated in the respective towns/cities including the towns located along River Ganga. According to the SWM Rules, the municipal authorities require to ensure segregated collection of wastes from every households/generators; and process for reuse, recycling, composting, waste-to-energy followed by final disposal at landfill site. The littering or throwing garbage into open drains/areas are prohibited.
The Central Pollution Control Board has issued directions under section 5 of EPA to the Commissioners/CEOs of Municipal Authorities of 118 towns/cities located in Ganga River basin to implement the solid waste management Rules.
(c) River surface cleaning activities have been initiated in 6 locations on river Ganga namely Kanpur, Allahabad, Varanasi, Patna & Mathura-Vrindavan and at Delhi on river Yamuna. The on going river surface cleaning machines and their O&M support has been provided through CSR arrangement.
(d) As part of the river surface cleaning activities, once the human and animal bodies are found, they are handed over to Municipal bodies/ULBs/Police department for further disposal.
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