Javadekar stressed that to meet the Centre's ambitious Swacch Bharat plans, streamlining waste management was essential.
That Mumbai's solid waste management system is literally down in the dumps is well known. But an admission in this regard came from none other than Union Minister of State for Environment, Forests and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar.
Noting that around 10,000 tons of waste was generated in Mumbai daily, Javadekar said he had visited the three dumping sites. "Only 15-20% of this waste is segregated and that too is done by the informal sector, ie ragpickers... at the dumping sites. This situation is not good," he admitted.
Javadekar noted that the union environment ministry had issued a new notification regarding the draft rules, which would tackle issues related to solid waste, construction and demolition waste, electronic waste, plastic waste and biomedical waste. These rules have been uploaded on the ministry's website and citizens can send in their suggestions and objections by July 31.
These rules will be applicable not just for municipal areas but also villages with a population of over 5,000.
Javadekar stressed that to meet the Centre's ambitious Swacch Bharat plans, streamlining waste management was essential.
The Centre has granted an in-principle nod for a pumping station at Borivli to flush out treated sewage water.
Javadekar said the encroachment on forest lands had not been measured so far and added that he had sought a report in this regard from states. The report, which had been received on Friday, would be verified and the extent of encroachments would be seen via Google maps.
Javadekar admitted that around one-third of the lands under forests were degraded forests, and blamed the Congress for not utilising Rs55,000 crore worth funds earmarked for afforestation in 10 years. A bill to use these funds would be tabled in the forthcoming monsoon session of Parliament.
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