Maharashtra plans special fund for SWM in rural areas

Apparently concerned over the rising trend of solid waste generated in rural areas, the state government is planning for a special financial package to deal with the problem. 

The state minister for water supply and sanitation, Laxman Dhobale, on Monday told DNA that Maharashtra has over 1,700 villages with a population of over 20,000 in each hamlet. 

“In these villages, the question of solid waste management (SWM) assumes significance. The existing infrastructure for SWM at the village level is not equipped to handle the amount of waste generated,” said Dhobale. 

He pointed out to the phenomenal increase in plastic and other non-degradable form of garbage. 

“Packaging materials and plastic bags are easily available, even in villages, adding to the garbage woes,” he added.

Under the special package, each village with a population of more than 20,000 will get a special aid of Rs15 lakh for addressing the issue of SWM. 

The respective gram panchayats will utilise this money to build suitable infrastructure for SWM. 

The infrastructure would include segregation of dry and wet garbage, procurement of garbage bins and other measures to stop the proliferation of garbage in villages. 

Dhobale said that the funding for this scheme would come jointly from the state government, central government and villages. 

“We will be sending the proposal to the central government shortly and once we get a green signal, we will start implementation of the plan,” he said.