Date:30/12/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/30/stories/2006123009680400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Need for proper management of solid waste stressed

Staff Reporter

Efforts in this regard will help in preventing outbreak of diseases: Minister

Bangalore: "In spite of all the advancement, we have not imbibed the culture of disposing of waste responsibly and in a safe manner," said Minister for Science and Technology Ramachandra Gowda.

He was speaking after inaugurating the workshop on "Strategies on urban solid waste management in Karnataka" here on Friday.

The workshop was jointly organised by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India; Karnataka State Council for Science and Technology (KSCST), Indian Institute of Science; and the Directorate of Municipal Administration.

The Minister said as citizens "we all have a social responsibility to keep our city clean and dispose of solid waste in a safe manner. We have to educate people, especially children, about the proper disposal of waste. We have to create awareness about the need to segregate waste," he said.

Mr. Gowda said that proper management of solid waste could prevent outbreak of diseases.

"Instead of taking sustainable technologies to the villages, we have to learn about organic waste management from people in rural areas. Half the battle is won if people in urban areas take up organic waste management and segregate their waste," he said.

Mr. Gowda said plastic that was segregated from waste could be used to lay roads. The Government had begun talks with the Directorate of Municipal Administration and the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike in this regard.

The Minister also said that Bangalore generated 2,000 tonnes of waste every day, which worked out to 484 gm of waste per person.

Among the cities in south India, Chennai produced the maximum amount of waste (3,124 tonnes), while Hyderabad produced the least (1,566 tonnes).

The Minister said that if the directorate did not manage solid waste responsibly, the Government might be forced to set up a State-level board to take care of waste management.

B.B. Cauvery, Deputy Director of the directorate, said that for the 226 urban local bodies (ULBs) in the State, 217 landfill sites had been authorised by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board.

She said that for the first time in the country, 123 environment engineers had been recruited and posted in the ULBs by the directorate. "The directorate is concentrating on solid waste management. However, the Government cannot go at it alone. The common man should also participate for which awareness is essential," she said.

M.K. Surappa, secretary, KSCST, welcomed the gathering, and S.G.S. Swamy, scientist of KSCST, proposed a vote of thanks.