THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT ( SHRI AJAY MAKEN )
(a)to(f): A Statement is laid on the Table of the Sabha.
STATEMENT
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION
NO.189 FOR 3.3.2006 REGARDING COMMITTEE ON SOLID WASTE
MANAGEMENT.
(a): Yes, Sir. A Committee was constituted by the Hon`ble
Supreme court of India in January, 1998 to look into all the
aspects of Solid Waste Management in Class-I cities of the
country.
(b)&(c): A copy of the order of the Hon`ble Supreme Court dated
16.1.1998 containing the directions on the constitution of
Committee is given in Annexure-A. The Committee submitted its
report in March, 1999.
(d): The Committee studied the following aspects of Solid Waste
Management(SWM) in the country :
(i) Waste generation
(ii) Composition of waste
(iii) Technology adopted for storage, collection,
transportation and disposal of waste.
(iv) Primary collection, waste storage depots, street
sweeping, transportation of waste, processing &
disposal of waste, Institutional arrangement and
community involvement.
Recommendations of the Committee for modernization of
solid waste management practices in Class-I cities are at
Annexure-B.
(e): Yes, Sir.
(f): Pursuant to the directions issued by the Hon`ble Supreme
Court, in place of a Mission the Government constituted a
Technology Advisory Group (TAG) in August, 1999.
ANNEXURE-A
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
ORIGINAL JURISDICTION
WRIT PETITION (C) NUMBER 888 OF 1996
Almitra H. Patel & Anr. ...Petitioners
Vs.
U.O.I. & Ors. ...Respondents
ORDER
We have heard learned Additional Solicitor General and Shri
Vallapalli, learned Senior counsel. We consider it appropriate
at this stage to constitute a Committee and to specify the
specific aspects which the Committee is required to examine. We
direct accordingly.
The Committee for elass-I Cities (having population over one
lac) shall consist of the following:-
1. Mr. Asim Burman Chairman
(Commissioner, Calcutta
Municipal Corpn.)
2. Mr. S. R. Rao Member
(Secretary, SSI,
Govt. of Gujarat &
ex-Commr., Surat)
3. Mr. S. K. Chawla, Member
Chief Engineer, CPWD
4. Mr. P.U.Asnani Member
(Urban Env.Infrastructure
Rep.for India, USAID and
Consultant,Ahmedabad Mun. Corpn.)
5. Dr. Saroj Member
(Jt. Director, Ministry of
of Environment & Forests)
6. Mr .Rajat Bhargava Member
(Commissioner, Vijaywada
Mun.Corpn.)
7. Mr. Yogendra Tripathi Member
( Dy. Secy. Urban Dev. Secretary
MOUA&E )
8. Mrs. Almitra Patel Member
(Convener, INTACH Waste
Network)
The terms of Reference for the Committee shall be as under:
To look into all aspects of urban solid waste management,
particularly:
1. Examine the existing practices and to suggest hygienic
processing and waste disposal practices and proven technologies
on the basis of economic feasibility and safety which the
Corporation/Government may directly or indirectly adopt or
sponsor.
2. Examine and suggest ways to improve conditions in the
formal, and informal sector for promoting eco-friendly sorting,
collection, transportation, disposal, recycling and reuse.
3. To review Municipal bye-laws and the powers of local bodies
and regional planning authorities and suggest necessary
modifications to ensure effective budgeting, financing,
administration, monitoring and compliance.
4. Examine and formulate standards and regulations for
management of urban solid waste, and set time frames within
which the authorities shall be bound to implement the same.
The Committee is requested to give its report as early as
possible preferably not later than 30th June, 1998. The
Committee is also requested to give such interim reports as it
may find convenient so to do.
The Secretarial assistance at Delhi will be provided for the
Ministry of Urban Development which will also make all other
arrangements required by the Committee for its proper
functioning while arrangements
within the States/Union Territories would be made by the
concerned State/UT. The expenses incurred for the purpose to
the same extent would be borne at this stage by the Ministry of
Urban Development and the concerned State Governments/UST. The
final responsibility for meeting these expenses would be decided
later on.
The Local authorities and concerned State Govemments/Union
Territories shall extend all cooperation and assistance to the
Committee for its proper functioning.
List the matter on 20th July, 1998/
Sd/- CJI
Sd/- J.
(B.N.KIRPAL)
Sd/- J.
(V.N.KHARE) .
NEW DELHI
JANUARY 16, 1998
ANNEXURE-B
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MODERNISATION OF SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT
PRACTICES IN CLASS I CITIES
BAN ON THROWING OF WASTES ON THE STREETS
No waste shall be thrown on the streets, footpaths, open spaces,
open drains or water bodies.
STORAGE OF WASTE AT SOURCE
Waste shall be stored at source of generation in 2 bins/bags,
one for food/bio-degradable wastes and another for recyclable
waste. Domestic hazardous waste, as and when produced, shall be
kept separately from the above two streams.
Multi storeyed buildings, commercial complexes and group housing
shall additionally provide community bins for storage of waste
generated by their members. Community bins shall also be
provided in slums by the local body for the community storage of
waste by slum dwellers.
DOORSTEP COLLECTION OF WASTE
Both the streams of waste, organic/ biodegradable waste as well
as recyclable waste, shall be collected from the doorstep.
Containerised handcarts or containerised tricycles or small-
motorised vehicles shall be used for daily collection of food/
biodegradable waste from the doorstep through public
participation using a bell, whistle or horn as a means of
announcing the arrival of the collection staff.
For collection of recyclable waste from the doorstep NGOs may be
encouraged to organize the rag pickers. They may allot them the
work of collection of recyclable material from the doorsteps
instead of picking it up from the streets, bins or dump-yard,
thereby upgrading their status. This waste can be collected
once or twice a week according to the convenience of the
households, shops or establishments.
Hazardous toxic waste material which is occasionally generated
shall however be disposed of by the citizens in special bins to
be provided in the city at suitable locations by the urban local
bodies.
SWEEPING OF STREETS ON ALL DAYS OF THE YEAR
Sweeping of streets and public places having habitation or
commercial activities on one or both sides shall be done on all
days of the year irrespective of Sundays and public holidays.
Arrangements for rotating weekly rest-days are to be made by the
local bodies.
WORK NORMS FOR SWEEPING OF STREETS
Work norms ranging from 250 to 750 running meters of road length
have been recommended, depending on the density of the area and
local conditions. Giving a demarcated `pin point` area for
street sweeping and waste collection is also recommended for
optimum utilisation of manpower.
PROVISION OF LITTER BINS AT PUBLIC PLACES
Provision of litter bins at railway stations, bus stations,
market places, parks, gardens and important commercial streets
may be made, to prevent littering of streets.
ABOLITION OF OPEN WASTE STORAGE SITES AND OTHER UN-HYGIENIC
STREET BINS
The pathetic condition of street bins must be corrected by the
provision of neat mobile closed body containers into which waste
can be directly transferred from the containerised hand carts or
tricycles and all open waste-storage sites as well as cement
concrete or masonry bins must be abolished in a phased manner.
TRANSPORTATION OF WASTE TO SYNCHRONIZE WITH WASTE STORAGE
FACILITY - DISPENSE WITH MANUAL LOADING OF WASTE
For the transportation of waste, a system which synchronizes
with both primary collection and bulk waste storage facilities
may be introduced. Manual loading and multiple handling of
waste may be dispensed with and instead, hydraulic vehicles for
lifting the containers may be used in larger cities and tractor
trolleys or a tractor container combination may be used in
smaller cities.
Transportation of waste shall be done on a regular basis before
the temporary waste-storage containers start over-flowing. For
economy in expenditure, the vehicle fleet should be used in at
least two shifts. Workshop facilities may be optimised to keep
at least 80% of the vehicle fleet on road. Transfer stations
may be set up in cities where the distance to waste-disposal
sites is more than 10 kms.
PROCESSING AND DISPOSAL OF WASTE:
Conversion of Organic Waste/Bio-degradable Waste into Bio-
organic Fertiliser (Compost)
With the availability of land for processing and disposal of
waste becoming scarce and the food and bio-degradable component
useful to agriculture going waste, measures for conservation of
land and organic waste resource shall be taken and organics
shall be returned to the soil. To meet these objectives, all
food waste and bio degradable waste shall be composted,
recyclable waste shall be passed on to the recycling industry
and only rejects shall be land-filled in a
scientific manner. Decentralised composting with public and
NGOs/CBO participation, may be encouraged wherever possible, and
centralised compo- sting of the rest of the waste may be done.
Microbial or vermi composting processes may be adopted. A
variety of composting options has been given in the report and
their processes are explained.
CAUTION AGAINST USING UNPROVEN TECHNOLOGIES
Local bodies are cautioned not to adopt expensive technologies
of power generation, fuel pelletisation, incineration etc.
until they are proven under Indian conditions and the Government
of India or expert agencies nominated by the Government of India
advises cities that such technology can be adopted.
LAND TO BE MADE AVAILABLE ON PRIORITY FOR PROCESSING AND
DISPOSAL OF WASTE
Availability of land for setting up processing plants and for
disposal of waste is a major problem faced by urban local
bodies. Government wasteland must therefore be given on top
priority for this purpose free or at nominal cost, and if such
land is not available or not found suitable, private land should
be acquired or purchased through negotiated settlement. A
Committee at the district level should identify suitable land
and State Governments should form Empowered Committees to give
speedy final clearance and prompt possession of suitable land to
the ULB.
CRITERIA FOR SITE SELECTION, SITE DEVELOPMENT AND LANDFILL
OPERATIONS
Criteria for site selection, development of land fill sites and
scientific landfill operations may be adopted. Remediation of
old abandoned landfill sites should also be done as suggested in
the report. Bio-medical waste, industrial waste and
slaughter-house waste may be managed as per the relevant Rules
and guidelines of the Government of India and/or Central
Pollution Control Board.
INSTITUTIONAL STRENGTHENING AND CAPACITY BUILDING
Institutional strengthening is the key to success of the SWM
system. Professionalism in administration, decentralisation of
administration, delegation of financial and administrative
powers, induction of environmental/public health engineers in
the solid waste management services and fixation of work norms
and proper supervisory levels are recommended. Human resource
development through training at various levels needs to be taken
up. Municipal Commissioners and Chief Executives should not be
transferred frequently and should have a tenure of at least 3
years to perform effectively. Inter-city meets for sharing of
experience are recommended.
Adequate safe-guards for the supervisory staff against abuse of
the Schedule Caste/Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities)
Act 1984 may be provided through suitable amendments in the law
to enable the Supervisory staff to perform their duties
fearlessly.
NGO/PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION IN SWM SERVICES
There is a need to improve accountability and the level of
services through NGO/Private sector participation in SWM
services to improve overall performance without harming the
interests of the existing staff. Suitable amendments in the
Contract Labour ( Regulation and Abolition) Act 1970 may be done
by the Govt. of India to permit private sector participation in
this service.
ENFORCEMENT
A system of levy of administrative charges or special cleaning
charges from those who litter the streets or cause nuisance on
the streets may be introduced and powers to punish offenders may
be given to the local bodies through suitable additions to the
Municipal acts & rules.
MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM
MIS is the key to monitoring the performance of manpower and
machinery and to help in planning for the future. Detailed
management information systems suggested in the report may be
introduced.
FINANCIAL ASPECTS
The poor financial health of ULBs is major constraint in
improving SWM systems. The financial condition of local bodies
may first be improved by setting the house in order and a series
of measures towards financial discipline, avoidance of wasteful
expenditure, prioritising the expenditure on essential services,
as recommended in the report may be taken. Taxes, user charges
and fees should be raised and linked to the cost-of-living
index. Area-based property- tax reforms may be taken up to
improve the finances of the ULBs.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO ULBs BY STATES AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENTS
Financial support to ULBs from the State Government and the
Central Government in terms of the 74th Amendment to the
Constitution may be given expeditiously and funds may also be
allocated to ULBs for a period of three years as per the formula
given in the report. In the meantime, transfer of unspent
grants by the 10th Finance Commission to the ULBs may be
considered for modernising their SWM practices. Fiscal autonomy
to local bodies, tax free status for municipal bonds, incentives
to recycling and composting industries may be considered by the
Central and State Governments and Union Territories.
HEALTH ASPECTS
Improper SWM practices give rise to problems of health and
sanitation. Twenty-two types of diseases are associated with
improper SWM practices. Proper management of processing and
disposal sites, special attention to cleaning of slums,
provision of low cost sanitation facilities to prevent open
defecation, prevention of cattle nuisance, proper training to
the workforce and use of protective clothing are some of the
measures the local body should take immediately to protect the
health of the citizens and the work force.
LEGAL ASPECTS
CitIzens` active participation may be ensured through massive
public awareness campaigns. Simultaneously, adequate provisions
may be made in local State laws governing the local bodies to
ensure public participation and action against defaulters.
Legislative provisions to be made by each State have been
suggested in the report.
PUBLIC AWARENESS STRATEGY
Public awareness campaign using information, education and
communication (I-E-C) techniques may be used. Waste Reduction,
Reuse, Recycling (R-R-R) may be advocated to reduce the burden
on the local body and citizens may be motivated to store waste
at source in a two-bin system, co-operate with the doorstep
primary collection system and keep the city litter-free.
Hygienic Solid Waste Management needs to find a place in the
National Agenda.
TECHNOLOGY MISSION FOR SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT
Given the vastness of the country and the present condition of
urban local bodies, implementation of these recommendations
requires very effective follow-up, monitoring and technical
support. A Technology Mission for SWM may therefore be urgently
constituted by the Government of India under the Ministry of
Urban Development for a period of 5 years, having a mandate to
monitor the performance of various local bodies, to guide the
local bodies about various technologies for processing and
disposal of waste, to give technical assistance as well as
financial assistance by channelising funds from various
Government sources as well as financial institutions to develop
material for awareness programmes, identify training needs,
bench-mark performance indicators and give continued and
focussed attention to the reform of SWM practice nation-wide.
TIME FRAME
A time frame is necessary to implement the recommendations which
have been prescribed ranging from 3 months to 3 years as per the
details given in the report.
