Latest news with #SolidWasteManagement
Time of India
07-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
NGT slams UP govt over gaps in sewage, waste mgmt report
Agra: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has pulled up the Uttar Pradesh (UP) govt, citing several shortcomings in its report on the status of sewage treatment plants (STPs) and solid and liquid waste management across various districts of the state, including Agra. A three-member bench comprising chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Justice Sudhir Agarwal and expert member A Senthil Vel, in its order released on Saturday, has directed the state to address the deficiencies and submit a revised report in a prescribed format ahead of the next hearing on July 28. According to the green tribunal's six-page order, the state govt's report, dated April 16 and submitted on May 24, "failed to identify critical gaps and did not comply with the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, and relevant Supreme Court (SC) directives". "Against the disclosure of 95% waste processing capacity (19,014 tons per day), the actual segregated waste stands at only 74% (14,884 TPD). This discrepancy needs clarification," the order stated. It further noted that the report failed to explain the operation of waste processing plants lacking mandatory authorisation under the SWM Rules. The tribunal pointed out that while the report covered waste generation in 762 urban local bodies (ULBs), it did not specify the actual quantity of waste being processed. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký It also questioned the claim of 100% remediation of legacy waste at 60 sites, stating that no supporting evidence had been provided. Legacy waste refers to solid waste that has been collected and left untreated for years in landfills or open grounds. "Figures indicate that 60 sites have been remediated and only 26 remain with legacy waste. However, since many ULBs still lack processing facilities, there must be specific disclosure of legacy waste in those areas," the order said. Additionally, the NGT noted the absence of details on the operational status of waste-to-energy plants. The NGT also raised concerns regarding discrepancies in the planning and distribution of STPs. It pointed out that while some cities like Agra, Bijnor, Anupshahar, Chitrakoot Karwi, Pilkhuva, Kannauj, and Bela Pratapgarh have STPs with excessive capacity relative to sewage generation, many others, including Bahraich, Banda, Deoria, Fatehpur, Gonda, Hathras, Sambhal and Bhadohi, do not have STPs at all. It also flagged anomalies such as the case of Garh Mukteshwar, which reports zero sewage generation but has two STPs. The court was hearing the matter in the context of a 2018 SC ruling in Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti & others vs. Union of India & others, which issued key directives for controlling river pollution and improving the treatment of industrial and domestic waste. The apex court had mandated municipalities to ensure functioning STPs and set deadlines for new STPs and common effluent treatment Plants (CETPs), while also allowing the UP govt to approach the NGT to seek modifications in the implementation timelines. The NGT was tasked with monitoring compliance.
Time of India
02-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Property tax to waste collection: MCG chief appoints 12 nodal officers to review work weekly
Gurgaon: MCG commissioner Pradeep Dahiya has appointed 12 nodal officers to oversee various services provided to residents. "All appointed nodal officers are directed to conduct a weekly review meeting to monitor the progress and address any challenges related to the implementation of these schemes. This will ensure the objectives of the schemes are met efficiently and within the stipulated timelines. The undersigned also reviewed the progress of all schemes, and a separate communication regarding observations and recommendations will be shared shortly," the order read. The appointed officers will assess property tax-related issues such as the status of newly generated property IDs among others. Moreover, they will monitor development projects, particularly those announced by the chief minister, while also supervising door-to-door waste collection operations and road sweeping activities. Additional commissioner Yash Jaluka was designated as the nodal officer to oversee MCG's development initiatives. His responsibilities include monitoring major project preparations, reviewing pending chief minister announcements, and supervising development activities in newly approved colonies. He will also assess requirements for horticulture and cleaning equipment, monitor work allocations on the Haryana Engineering Works Portal (HEWP), track bill payments, and oversee pothole repairs. Moreover, additional commissioner Mahabir Parsad will supervise the city's waste management operations, including door-to-door collection, solid waste processing, and road sweeping activities. He will also ensure proper data updates on the Solid Waste Management (SWM) portal. MCG chief accounts officer Vijay Kumar Singla will handle the review of budget announcements for the 2025-26 fiscal year. Additional commissioner Manish Lohan's appointment as nodal officer covers several key areas. These include overseeing property certificate issuance in Lal Dora, ensuring complete self-certification of committee properties, and addressing public grievances related to property IDs. MCG chief town planner Sanjeev Maan was appointed the nodal officer to review the regularisation of unauthorised colonies. Moreover, chief medical officer Dr Ashish Singla will address problems related to stray cattle in the city. For grievance redress, joint commissioner Vishal Kumar was appointed the nodal officer.
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Noida cracks down on condos with no WTPs, space a squeeze, say residents
Noida: With parking and play area already a squeeze, Noida Authority's decision to serve notices to group housing societies that generate over 100 kg of waste daily but have no on-site waste treatment plants (WTPs) has left apartment owners' associations miffed. Under the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, 2016, waste treatment plants are a must for group housing societies built on plots spanning 5,000 sqm or more. Earlier this month, the Authority started issuing notices to societies that continued to dump waste in the open, asking them to draw up a waste management plan or face penalties, including recovery of disposal costs. In April, Noida CEO Lokesh M had also warned about deregistering apartment owners' associations (AOAs) of societies that violated environmental norms. AOA representatives and highrise society federations told TOI that the order was "autocratic" and failed to take into account that most group housing societies, including those in newer 7x to 10x sectors, were built or their building plans approved by Noida Authority before 2016 when designated space to hold and process a large quantity of waste within the compound wasn't the norm. A few others accused the Authority of trying to park the issue of waste treatment on group housing societies rather than addressing the frequent sanitation workers' strikes in the city. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo "Asking group housing societies to build infrastructure for WTPs overnight is problematic. Societies are already fighting for space for parking and even play areas for children within the complex. Where is the space for a waste treatment plant or process?" Rajiva Singh, president of Noida Federation of Apartment Owners Associations (NOFAA) that represents over 80 high-rise societies, said. Nikhil Singhal, president of Noida Highrise Federation (NHRF) for 100X sectors, also called out the decision as "hasty", one taken without consulting AOAs or the residents' federations. "Most NHRF societies lack space for setting up WTPs as these were not a part of the original building plan drawn up by developer and approved by the Authority," Singhal said. Ashutosh Rai, AOA secretary of Gaur Grandeur Apartments in Sector 119, which was issued a notice on Monday, said, "Noida Authority's notice stated that we need to start processing our waste within the society. This is a one-sided communication with no formal platform for an open discussion," he said. While Gaur Grandeur is yet to figure out a resolution, some societies which are facing FIRs for allegedly discharging untreated sewage into stormwater drains have decided to take legal recourse. RG Residency, which was among the seven societies against whom FIRs were registered in April, challenged the action and obtained a stay from Allahabad high court that restrained Noida Authority from taking coercive action against the Sector 120 society "till the next date of listing" in July. Besides RG Residency, FIRs were filed against Sikka Karmik (Sector 78), Lotus Boulevard (Sector 100), Purvanchal Royal Park (Sector 137), Aims Max Gardenia (Sector 75), Prateek Stylome (Sector 45), and Amrapali Silicon City (Sector 76) for allegedly operating without functional STPs. According to Rajiva Singh, NOFAA had proposed a cluster-based approach for solid waste management under which a few highrise societies in a sector could come together and establish a WTP. "Our proposal was approved by the previous CEO some three years back. Also, land was allotted to the Federation by the Noida Authority to make this cluster approach possible through a people-private-administration partnership. But nothing has moved since then," Singh claimed.
Indian Express
28-05-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Hike in ready reckoner rates leads to rise in property tax bills by 8-20 % in Mumbai
Maharashtra government's decision to increase ready reckoner rates in all major municipalities of Maharashtra ahead of the upcoming civic polls has resulted in an increase in the overall property tax bills in Mumbai by a margin of 8-20 per cent – a first in the last ten years. Mumbai's Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, however, clarified that there has been no revision on Mumbai's existing property tax rates. Property tax is a cess charged by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) which comprises multiple components. While the larger aspect of this cess is determined by the ready reckoner rate (RRR) or the minimum property value determined by the government for revenue collection, the remaining valuation is determined by factors like age and condition of the property and sewerage charges among others. 'The BMC hasn't increased the property tax rates. In Mumbai, property tax is directly linked with RRR. Therefore, the government's decision of hiking the overall increase in RRR has impacted the property tax rates in Mumbai resulting in an 8-20% increase across municipal wards. All the components like sewage charges stay the same in the bill. The new tax rates will be reflected in the bills that are being issued in the current financial year,' Gagrani told The Indian Express on Tuesday. Property tax is one of the key sources of revenue for the BMC. For the financial year 2024-25 the BMC collected property tax amounting to Rs 6,195 crore – making a 20% jump from the previous fiscal year. The Mumbai's Municipal Corporation Act states that the BMC can increase property tax after every five years. However, the tax rates have not been revised since 2015. In 2020, the civic administration was supposed to increase the rates however, the decision was deferred following the pandemic outbreak and has been pending since. Meanwhile, this year in the civic budget, the BMC had introduced a new cess called Solid Waste Management (SWM) charges. This cess will likely come into effect from the 2026-27 financial year. Meanwhile, former elected representatives have criticised the BMC administration. Former Congress corporator from Bandra Asif Zakaria said that all property tax bills being issued are ad hoc and that the BMC clarifies the same in the footnote of each bill. 'The bills that BMC issues are ad hoc in nature, therefore what is the need of issuing them in the first place? The courts have already asked BMC to formulate a committee and work on the new tax rates. However, that's not happened yet,' Zakaria said. 'The Mumbai Municipal Act states that after every five years, the BMC can revise and charge tax as per capital value or up to 40% of the previous year's tax or whichever is less. Since the capital value will always be higher, it clearly negates the justification of raising the tax rates on the basis of RRR,' Zakaria said. On March 31, the state government increased the RRR for the ongoing 2025-26 financial year by an average of 3.88 per cent across the state. Meanwhile, Mumbai has recorded an increase in RRR by 3.39 per cent — slightly below the state average, followed by 3.36 per cent in rural areas and 3.29 per cent in influence zones. Municipal corporations other than Mumbai have recorded an average increase of 5.95 per cent.
The Hindu
28-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
No public-friendly markets or market-friendly waste disposal in Bengaluru
Nothing beats the unbearable stench that hits you while stepping into an open vegetable market in Bengaluru. But if you somehow bypass those mountains of rotting wet waste, a labyrinthine mess of slushy pathways awaits you inside. This is nauseatingly real as monsoon has got here in full force. The time for a cleanup job was yesterday. Trapped in the muck is a system that is critical for lakhs of Bengalureans to keep their kitchens afloat. The ugly sight repeats in markets across the city. From Banashankari Market on Kanakapura Road to the HAL Market off Old Airport Road, from Malleswaram to Madiwala, the neglect is stark. But the issues go far beyond big gaps in waste management. Poor maintenance and infrastructural gaps have, for instance, left the once thriving HAL Market in a sorry state today. Yes, the huge wet waste pile right inside the market is symbolic of all that has gone wrong. But walk in deeper, and the full extent of the poor upkeep becomes obvious. The pathways are barely walkable, filled with slush after every rain. Beyond the busy weekends that exacerbate the chaos, the market is virtually empty on weekdays. Haphazard waste management Bengaluru Praja Vedike founder Mukunda N.S. says that poor waste management is the fundamental problem with the markets. 'The waste has to be cleared effectively, not in a haphazard manner,' he says. 'There should be a permanent mechanism in all the markets, where the waste is cleared every two hours. The frequency should be even higher during festival times. The waste collectors should be stationed there itself,' he elaborates. The market waste, he says, should be transported to the processing centres through a system that is infallible. 'The BBMP is now charging a fee for Solid Waste Management from everybody, including bulk generators. Let them collect and use the money there. The waste collection and transport process should be monitored by a committee. Some checks and balances have to be devised to ensure payment only after satisfactory completion of the work.' Trash is a big problem at the Banashankari open market, which extends on the footpath along the Kanakpura Road between two Metro Stations. The waste accumulates by the hour, but is cleared only twice a day or less. To streamline waste collection and address congestion and chaos, the Praja Vedike had suggested building an underground plaza at Banashankari Circle with space for 150 stalls and eight exits. But this proposal made to former Minister R. Ashoka was not followed up, recalls Mukunda. Rampant use of plastic The rampant use of plastic has emerged as a key issue with the markets. Shanthi Tummala, a founding member of the HSR Citizen's Forum and a member of the Solid Waste Management Round Table (SWMRT), says plastic was the main pain point why she stopped going to the Madiwala market. 'It has been nine years since the plastic ban came into force, in 2016. I don't understand why the markets are not getting rid of plastic. As a sustainability practitioner and motivator, I feel de-motivated and depressed,' she laments. The solution is simple, she notes. 'All vendors should come on one page and say they will not give plastic covers. Within a week, the change will come. Most people who come to the markets are regular customers who buy vegetables for the entire week. Once they realise they don't get plastic covers, they will get their own bags. Besides, a stall should sell cloth and paper bags. Let customers spend ₹20-30, and get that bag every time.' Pushcart vendors, Shanthi points out, save ₹3,000 per month when they don't give plastic covers. 'Imagine how much the Madiwala market vendors can save. What is required is they should all come on one page. They should make it a habit.' Process wet waste locally Besides, the wet waste generated should be processed locally, right inside the market premises. As she puts it, 'A strict initiative should be launched. Tax payers' money should be spent on sustainable waste management. Let them take up composting or biogas or whatever. Let them take it as a challenge and install this in one market as a pilot to start with.' Lack of a planned, structured approach has left several open markets morph into chaotic congestion magnets. Crying out for attention are markets in Hebbal and K.R. Puram, where wholesale supply vehicles, heavy traffic and vendor outlets trigger extreme congestion. 'Located right next to the main road, the Hebbal market is very crowded. And with the flyover and Metro works in progress, the entire place is dirty, disorganised and in a big mess,' says Shabina Jinarajan, a Hebbal resident and teacher, stressing on the dire need for segregated markets with proper parking and waste clearance. Underground market issues An underground market – an air-conditioned one at that – opened with much fanfare in Vijayanagar, has run into problems. Modeled after New Delhi's iconic Palika Bazar, the city's Palike Bazar has reportedly been taken over by more than 25 vendors without official allotment by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). Built at a cost of ₹13 crore, the market was opened to the public in August 2024. But nobody goes there, notes Vinay K. Sreenivasa from the Alternative Law Forum, a long-time campaigner for vendor rights and welfare. 'It is an absolute waste. The market has no proper ventilation or proper toilets. They had cut many trees to build that. Instead of the money spent on the AC structure, they could have refurbished the roadside market next to the Metro Station for about ₹50 lakh,' he contends. The old market had grown organically over the last three decades with local residents as the main customers. Most of the Palike's built markets are now being demolished. 'They are trying to build multi-storied markets, which is not working. In Malleswaram, they demolished the flower market. It was old but could have been refurbished. It was open and had air circulation. Now, how will you sell flowers in a multi-storied building? Who will climb three floors to buy flowers? The building is now incomplete, and the vendors are on the road. They were shopkeepers before. They also demolished the market near Cox Town,' notes Vinay.
