'Nirmala Nagara' to ensure cleaner towns, cities

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 municipal administration joint director (admn) B B Cauvery said, in spite of sustained 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.