Latest news with #SolidWasteManagementRules
The Hindu
6 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Coimbatore Corporation to act against dumping of non-biodegradable waste in Sanganoor canal
The Coimbatore Corporation has decided to step up measures to address the dumping of thermocol and other non-biodegradable waste into the Sanganoor Canal, which drains into Singanallur Lake, in the city. Waste is frequently found in the canal, particularly along the 1.5-km stretch between Trichy Road and Singanallur Lake. According to Corporation officials, this blocks water flow and has led to recurring flooding in surrounding areas. Following a request from the Corporation to NGOs to trace the source of the dumping, the Residents Awareness Association of Coimbatore conducted a drone survey of the canal. 'We identified five locations where thermocol waste, typically used for packaging machinery, had accumulated, and submitted the findings to the Corporation,' said R. Raveendran, secretary of the association. Painthamil T, a resident of Sakthi Nagar, said thermocol waste was spotted floating in the canal for over two years. 'All the stormwater drains in the area discharge into the canal. Even moderate rains lead to flooding in Sakthi Nagar, T. Nagar, and Bharathidasan Nagar in ward 64, which are close to the canal. There are no proper stormwater drains in many of these streets and drains are damaged or clogged. We often have to call lorries to pump out stagnant water. We have been raising complaints about waterlogging and waste, but no permanent solution has been found,' the resident said. A senior Corporation official said the presence of thermocol and other solid waste in the canal is blocking the water flow into Singanallur Lake. 'In several stretches, the water is not flowing forward but is getting pushed back, causing a reverse flow. This is one of the reasons for water stagnation in the surrounding areas,' the official said. The official added that all sanitary inspectors and officials have been instructed to monitor the canal closely. An inquiry will be carried out to trace the source of the bulk waste. Action will be taken under the Solid Waste Management Rules.
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Noida admin warns bulk waste generators to set up compost units within 15 days
The Noida authority on Friday issued a 15-day ultimatum to all bulk waste generators to install compost processing units on their premises, failing which legal action will be initiated under Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, officials said. The directive was issued during a workshop held at Panchsheel Balak Inter College in Sector 91, attended by owners of hotels, restaurants, hospitals, schools, colleges, apartment owners' associations, and other bulk waste producers, officials added. 'If the bulk waste generators do not set up compost processing units, the authority will stop collecting their waste after the 15-day deadline,' said Indu Prakash Singh, officer on special duty (OSD), Noida authority. 'We've advised them several times in the past. It's time they cooperate so Noida can perform better in the upcoming Swachh Survekshan,' Singh added. According to the solid waste management rules, any entity producing over 100 kg of waste daily is classified as a bulk waste generator and is mandated to process wet waste through composting. Experts at the event urged stakeholders to segregate dry and wet waste and highlighted that composting can be done easily on-site. Citizens were also advised to report construction and demolition waste issues via helpline 18008919657. The authority currently treats 300 tonnes of such waste daily at its Sector 80 facility, officials said. The move is aimed at improving Noida's ranking in the Union housing and urban affairs ministry's Swachh Survekshan survey, authority officials said. In 2023, Noida was ranked 14th nationally and received five-star ratings in garbage-free and water-plus (wastewater recycling) categories. 'We hope that in the 2024-25 survey, Noida performs better and secures 1st spot,' Singh added.
Time of India
13-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Noida gives bulk waste generators 15 days to install compost units
Noida: Noida Authority on Friday directed bulk waste generators to install compost processing units at their premises within 15 days or face action under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. The directive was issued during a workshop organised at Panchsheel Balak Inter College in Sector 91, attended by representatives from hotels, restaurants, schools, hospitals, colleges, and apartment owner associations, entities classified as bulk waste generators for producing over 100 kg of waste per day. "We've given a 15-day deadline. If composting units are not set up by then, legal action will follow, and we'll also stop collecting waste from the violators," said S.P. Singh, general manager (Health), Noida Authority. He added that collective compliance could help Noida secure the top spot in the upcoming Swachh Survekshan 2024, scheduled later this year. Currently, the city ranks 14th in the annual national cleanliness survey conducted by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. At the workshop, officials emphasized the importance of in-house composting of wet waste and the need for strict segregation between dry and wet waste at the source. "Wet waste can be easily converted into compost within residential complexes, hotels, or school campuses. This reduces the burden on the city's central waste handling system," Singh said. The civic body has also issued a helpline number, 18008919657, for residents and institutions to report issues related to construction and demolition (C&D) waste. The Authority processes around 300 tonnes of C&D waste daily at its Sector 80 facility. Officials said better waste management at the source, particularly by large generators, would significantly improve Noida's score in cleanliness parameters, including waste segregation, treatment, and civic participation. The 15-day compliance window is part of a broader strategy to decentralise waste management, reduce landfill burden, and boost community accountability. With Swachh Survekshan rankings often influencing funding and urban development incentives, civic authorities are doubling down on enforcement measures in the lead-up to the survey. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
Hindustan Times
10-06-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Uttarkashi residents seek action over emission by waste incinerator in Gangotri National Park
Residents of Uttarkashi district in Uttarakhand have written to the Union government expressing concern over a new waste incinerator in the Gangotri National Park and within the Bhagirathi Eco-Sensitive Zone. The incinerator, installed a few months ago by the district administration, is burning mixed solid waste disposed in the hills, causing emissions in the region, they said. In the letter sent by the Himalayi Nagarik Drishti Manch to the secretary of Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEFCC), Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and National Mission for Clean Ganga on Monday, the residents said that the plant has come up near the Gangotri glacier and within the Gangotri National Park where all such polluting industries are prohibited 'The laws are being openly violated by the administration itself. The garbage is being collected and burnt in the incinerator and its toxic ash is being dumped into the valley towards Ganga. In this way, Ganga water is being made toxic with deadly elements (heavy metals etc.) from the source itself,' the letter said. 'We hope that you will take immediate cognizance to shut down this unit and will ensure strict action against those who are damaging the environment of Ganga and the Himalayas.' Ankur Kansal, an environmental engineer at the Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board, said that the project has yet to receive permission from the state board. 'We have checked our database and records. This project has not been granted permission yet. They do not have our No Objection Certificate (NOC),' he said. 'As far as I understand, they have applied for a permit but certain queries have been raised about land use category etc, which are yet to be addressed by the project proponent The Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, states that construction of landfill in hilly areas shall be avoided. A transfer station at a suitable enclosed location shall be set up to collect residual waste from the processing facility and inert waste. Suitable land shall be identified in the plain areas, down the hill, within 25 kilometers for setting up sanitary landfill. The residual waste from the transfer station shall be disposed of at this sanitary landfill. Activist and the head of Uttarkashi Nagar Palika American Puri said that the district administration has ignored the concerns raised by the residents. 'We are extremely unhappy with this move. How can you install a waste incinerator inside a forest and that too in an eco-sensitive zone high up in the Himalayas,' he said. 'Gangotri is not any other place. It is a very sensitive area because of biodiversity and forests here.' HT had reported on April 8 that the CPCB directed state pollution control boards to adopt a revised classification of industries with a new category, blue. The new category covers 'essential environmental services' required for management of environmental concerns due to domestic/household activities which otherwise will have large littering potential, it said. Waste to energy plants, certain compressed biogas plants, integrated sanitary landfills, biomining of legacy waste, among others fall under the new blue category, as per documents seen by HT.
Hindustan Times
05-06-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
No more excuses: Experts urge enforcement to tackle Gurugram waste
In Gurugram, the waste is everywhere, but solutions remain scattered — garbage burns in backyards, landfills spill over, and plastic clogs the streets. The problem isn't just a pile-up anymore; it's a slow burn on the city's edges. On Day Two of Urban Adda, sectoral experts didn't mince words: the city's waste crisis is no longer about awareness. It's about action, enforcement, and political will. The session, co-hosted by Gurgaon First and the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), brought together city planners, environmentalists, urban practitioners, and corporate leaders to reimagine how cities manage waste. The ongoing Urban Adda series is organised by the Raahgiri Foundation, with HT as media partner. Delivering the keynote, Shyamala Mani, senior advisor for WASH and waste management at the Centre for Chronic Disease Control (CCDC), said India already has progressive frameworks — the Solid Waste Management Rules (2016) and Extended Producer Responsibility guidelines for plastic — but poor enforcement has stalled impact. 'Cities like Gurugram must lead in implementing what already exists,' she said. Mani stressed the urgent need for municipalities to activate regulatory provisions, empower their enforcement units, and create real-time tracking systems to monitor waste flows. 'The tools are already out there — decentralised composting, waste-to-energy integration, digitised collection. What's missing is trained manpower, committed budgets, and political backing,' she said. Gurugram, despite being one of India's leading economic hubs, has repeatedly drawn criticism for its inadequate solid waste infrastructure. With two choked landfill sites, unregulated dumping in vacant plots, rampant burning of mixed waste, and irregular door-to-door collection, the city's waste problem has become symbolic of its broader urban mismanagement. 'This is no longer just a sanitation issue — it's a crisis of health, planning, and environmental justice,' said Shubhra Puri, founding director of Gurgaon First and moderator of the panel. 'Gurugram's failure to adopt decentralised, community-driven solutions is glaring. We need a complete rethink — built not just on infrastructure, but on behaviour change and design.' Bidisha Chattopadhyay, faculty at SPA and expert in urban infrastructure, pointed to systemic gaps in city planning. 'Our master plans don't account for waste. There's no space allocated for compost pits, dry waste centres, or e-waste drop-off points,' she said. 'Unless we redesign cities for waste resilience, we'll continue to rely on outdated centralised systems that collapse under pressure.' Adding a ground-level perspective, Bhairavi Joshi, director of BYCS India and founder of Trrayaam, shared success stories of zero-waste neighbourhoods, community composting units, and informal recycling groups. 'The pieces are in place — but the government needs to scale and support them. If MCG partners with these efforts and integrates them into formal systems, replication becomes possible,' she said. Sanjar Ali from WRI India flagged the air quality impact. 'Our studies show landfill fires and open burning significantly worsen PM2.5 and black carbon levels. Waste management is a health emergency, not just a civic one.' Offering the private sector view, Rajneesh Kumar, vice-president of Sustainability and ESG at MakeMyTrip, said national policies were well framed but patchy in implementation — especially in Tier 2 and 3 cities. 'Private players must support local bodies — through sustainable packaging, reducing single-use plastics, and funding green waste zones,' he said. MakeMyTrip, he added, is exploring eco-hospitality solutions in cities like Gurugram. The panel concluded with a call to shift from a waste disposal mindset to a circular economy approach — minimising waste generation, maximising resource recovery, and redesigning urban systems for long-term resilience. The path forward, they agreed, must rest on four pillars: policy coherence, community participation, decentralised infrastructure, and corporate collaboration.
