14 civic bodies lack waste disposal system

In a shocking revelation, the state has said that 14 of its 26 municipal corporations have not developed processing plants or secured landfill sites to dump solid waste.

While only five corporations — Navi Mumbai, Nashik, Nagpur, Pune and Vasai-Virar — have developed processing plants and secured landfill sites that are authorised by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), seven corporations have partial facilities.

These details were submitted in an affidavit filed by principal secretary of the urban development department Shree Kant Singh.

It included details of how the Solid Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules (SWMHR) were implemented.

The affidavit was filed in reply to a bunch of petitions that either sought for directions to close dumping grounds at various places in Mumbai or raised concerns over the non-implementation of the rules.

Of the 26 municipal corporations in the state, only nine have valid authorisation from the MPCB and validity of 14 of these has expired. Moreover, only 141 of the 230 municipal councils in the state have obtained MPCB authorisation.

The affidavit suggests that municipal commissioners and district magistrates will be directed to take all possible measures to ensure the implementation of the SWMHR, including conducting public awareness campaigns. It also says that an authorised officer will be appointed to coordinate and take all measures.

In August 2003, the government had constituted district-level committees to resolve the issue of identification, acquisition and possession of land required for a waste treatment facility as well as sanitary landfill sites.

In 2002, the government had constituted a solid waste management cell to train urban local bodies and develop a technology for waste handling, the affidavit says.

It further adding that the MMRDA is developing a common waste treatment facility and regional landfill sites at Taloja, for which land and approvals from have been acquired.

@DNA