URBAN SANITATION MISSION FOR BETTER
SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT AND DRAINAGE SYSTEM
Government is planning
to launch a new mission mode, state sector programme titled "Urban
Sanitation Mission" to assist urban local bodies (ULB) in
setting up sanitary landfills and composting plants for urban
solid waste and to improve drainage system. Planning Commission
has proposed an additional allocation of Rs. 2000 crores during
10th plan, which would be disbursed, as Special Central
Assistance to ULB’s. Guidelines for the Urban Sanitation Mission
are under preparation in consultation with Planning Commission
and the concerned Ministry / Departments of Government of India.
Country generates
about 2 million tonns of urban solid waste annually. The daily
per capita municipal solid waste is estimated as 0.4 kg. Due to
twin factors of growing urban population as also increasing per
capita waste generation, the yearly increase in the overall quantity
of solid waste in the cities is about 5%. Urban Waste Management
by the ULBs is already under stress because of poor resources
and inadequacies of the system. It is estimated that the ULBs
spend Rs. 500 to 1500 per tonne every month on waste collection
and transportation, leaving very little funds for disposal and
treatment. The major problem is disposal of solid waste. Sanitary
landfills, designed and constructed so as to prevent contamination
of ground water, creation of stench and other forms of environmental
hazards are largely absent leading to indiscriminate disposal
of garbage in open spaces, road margins, tank beds, etc.
It may be mentioned
that the Apex Court had constituted a committee to look into all
aspects of urban solid waste management in class I cities having
population over 1 lakh and the committee had submitted its report
in 1999.
