New Delhi: Delhi along with the other regions of the National Capital like Gurugram, Noida and Faridabad, on June 5 came forward to take on the biggest challenge facing our cities today – managing the huge volume of waste generated on a daily basis. Talkatora indoor stadium in New Delhi, was where the Minister of Urban Development M Venkaiah Naidu launched a mega waste management drive, an initiative by the government to tackle the humongous issues associated with waste facing the country.
The waste segregation at source campaign covers 4,000 cities across India, however, in New Delhi, the launch covered a total of nine urban local bodies including four of Delhi. “I feel motivated to see all the civic local bodies who have come together for swachh India here. We wanted to celebrate World Environment Day in the cleanest city of the world. We choose Indore, but, then I thought if we will not celebrate this important day in nation’s capital then it will not be a right decision. That’s why I am here in New Delhi, celebrating this important day with all of you, Delhi is as it is far behind in the swachh game. This is my way to motivate ‘Delhi Wasi’,” said M Venkaiah Naidu, as he launched the nationwide guideline of using a two-bin system, where people will segregate the waste at source – Green bin for wet or biodegradable waste and blue bin for dry or non-biodegradable waste.
Taking a step forward, various civic bodies present at the function spoke about various drives initiated by them in order to meet the target of 100% waste segregation at source by October 2, 2017, here are the highlights of activities done by them in order to fight the waste crisis in their ward:
New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC)
We are initially covering 8 societies; out of these two have already begun the process of waste segregation. Our aim is to meet the target as soon as possible. 14 ‘auto tippers’ with compartment are already deployed in the colonies for the collection of wet and dry waste and 40 locations have been provided with blue colored community mobile bins. Above of all this, we are providing households with one jute bag so as they can keep the dry waste in cars instead of throwing them out, explained Dr S. Srivastava, Chief Medical Officer, New Delhi Municipal Council.
Apart from the collection and awareness drive, NDMC, also has a plan in place to treat the waste in a scientific way so that only a small amount of the waste makes its way to the landfills.
“Installation of Bio-methanisation plant of 500 kg capacity shall be completed by next month and the tender for installation of 10TPD Bio-methanisation plant at Okhla has already been passed. Procurement of organic waste convertor is also being considered. We plan to come up with an action plan soon,” added Dr Srivastava.
South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC
From mass pledging to segregate waste to the launch of new improved modern technologies and vehicles that will help the corporation meet the target of 100% waste segregation at source, SDMC is leaving no stone unturned.
Speaking at the launch, one of the officials from SDMC added, “we have provided the new bins on the occasion of world environment day to 3 wards and have covered around 4,000 households. The plan is to cover each and every one within the span of 100 days so that the corporation can meet the target of 100% waste segregation at source.
South Delhi Municipal Corporation launched a signature campaign in Dwarka for Waste Segregation at Source.#BlueGreenPledge #SwachhBharat pic.twitter.com/DuxKTYRU27
— Swachh Bharat Urban (@SwachhBharatGov) June 5, 2017
However, the irony is that not much is planned to treat that segregated waste efficiently.
Taking a step forward, SDMC has also flagged off its high-tech waste disposal machine wherein waste can be carried away from the dumping sites to the landfills seamlessly saving almost Rs 461 crore within a span of eight years.
Make way for the new vehicles that comprise mobile transfer stations (MTSes) and auto- trippers
North And East Delhi Municipal Corporation
Lagging behind in the race are these two local bodies – North Municipal Corporation and East Municipal Corporation which ranked 279 and 196 respectively in the Swachh Survekshan 2017. The local bodies don’t have a solid waste segregation plan in place yet.
During the launch of the event, NDMC officials disclosed, they will soon put up composting units in schools and colleges, however how they plan to treat the waste was unclear. Till now, only awareness and education drives about waste management and segregation of waste at source have been planned by the local bodies in their respective ward.
When NDTV asked why Noida residents or Lakshmi Nagar citizens are unaware about this mega waste segregation drive by the government, Joint Secretary and Mission Director of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan added, “It is just a start of jan andolan, some municipal corporations are ahead of the game while some are lagging behind. But, they don’t have a choice, within the span of 100 days; they will have to reach each and every household of the country to meet the target of 100% waste segregation. We will make a report card in October 2, 2017 to see the progress.”
Faridabad Municipal Corporation
Apart from national capital’s local bodies, there were other National Capital regions who took part in this mega waste management drive, one such corporation which caught many eyeballs was Faridabad Municipal Corporation which fared poorly in the recently held Swachh Survekshan 2017 due to its waste management issues.
My aim is to take waste management in my area to great heights. By July 2017, I promise to complete 100% waste segregation target. We are planning night sweeping, we have provided blue and green bins to all localities and on world environment day alone we have distributed 10,000 bins. Moreover, we have flagged off new vehicles for the purpose of collection. Coming to the treatment facilities, the commissioner disclosed that they have identified a landsite in Ghaziabad where they plan to set up waste to energy plant. Moreover, the plan is also to initiate composting and set up more composting units, added CP Singh, Municipal Commissioner of Faridabad.
Faridabad Municipal Corporation innovative ways to promote the idea of home composting
Faridabad Municipal Corporation is also promoting the idea of home composting and asking people to purchase the units from them. “The idea is to let people join the waste segregation cause without depending on the government. Starting from Rs 1500 and going upto Rs 85,000, the municipal corporation together with private companies has developed various composting units.”
The ground is set for the local bodies to act for a green and clean Delhi, by October 2, 2017, India will get to know the status of Delhi’s 100% waste segregation target and whether ‘delhi wasi’ will be able to stop landfill pollution.
