ULBs asked to be solid waste management compliant

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi on Wednesday directed the urban local bodies (ULBs) to be solid waste management (SWM) compliant.

Padhi has given this direction over a video conferencing with Collectors of all districts on Wednesday.

Six identified model cities and towns were asked to be fully compliant by September 25 this year. Other towns were asked for complying with all WSM guidelines by March 2020.

Available data show, Bhubaneswar, Berhampur, Rourkela, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, and Chhatrapur have been identified as model cities.

Housing and Urban Development secretary G Mathivathanan appraised that detail guideline and SOP for solid waste management have been sent to all ULBs.

These include assessment of human resources, engagement of Swachha Sathis and supervisors, identification of suitable land for the establishment of micro compositing units (MCCs), preparation of route chart for movement of vehicles, segregation of bio-degradable waste, composting process, disposal of dry waste, and identification of bulk waste generators.

So far, 1,453 bulk waste generators have been identified and 447 Swachh Sathis have been engaged. Similarly, 231 sites have been identified for construction of MCCs which will serve 7.13 lakh households in 1,458 wards.   

Further, Padhi directed the Collectors to complete preparation of District Survey Reports (DSR) of their respective districts to seek permission for drawing minor minerals. 

Director Environment Dr. K. Mrugesan said, “DSR is mandatory to grant permission for mining of the minor minerals like stone, sand, and morums”.

Development Commissioner Asit Kumar Tripathy said since these materials are inevitable for construction and infrastructure development works, the Collectors should prioritize the completion of DSR and send it to the government at the earliest. 

Collectors were also asked to form the District Environment Committee and prepare the District Environment Action Plan as per directives of the National Green Tribunal.