CS takes up NGT orders on Solid Waste Management with all seriousness

Surjit Kumar Dhal, Bhubaneswar, JUNE 2: Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi has asked all District Collectors to review performance of the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) every fortnight on the solid waste management rules as prescribed by the National Green Tribunal.

Padhi has also told the Collectors that there has to be progress every week and consolidated progress has to be reviewed by by the Collectors in their respective districts.

According to sources, the NGT feels that there is huge gap between the steps taken so far in the field of solid waste management in the State and what the Solid Waste Management Rules envisage. Compliance of the rules is very poor in Odisha, the sources added.

So taking up the solid waste management issue seriously, the State government has decided to cover all urban centers of the State under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 and make them fully compliant with the rules within next one year.

However, at least one urban center from each of the 30 districts will be selected to be made fully compliant with such rules within next six months.

Accordingly, at least 30 Urban Local Bodies will be identified by the District Collectors as Model Towns which should fully comply with the rules under Environment Protection Act within next six months, said a senior official in the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Chief Secretary Padhi has issued orders to the District Collectors in this regard as NGT has been harping on such action to be carried out in a time-bound manner.

The Chief Secretary has asked the Collectors to expedite the identification and advance possession of land for processing plants, compost pits, construction and demolition of waste material recovery facility and sanitary landfills.