Srinagar’s waste management gets shot in the arm

GoI sanctions Rs 91.97 Cr for City’s garbage collection, scientific disposal; SMC launches mechanized waste gathering

 In a bid to make historic Srinagar a model City, Government of India has sanctioned Rs 91.97 crore for collection, transportation and scientific disposal of solid waste.
 This was announced by the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Nawang Rigzin Jora, while launching the second phase of mechanized sanitation fleet of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) and house-to-house garbage collection in the summer capital.
 Jora said under the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Rural Mission (JNURM-11), a detailed project report for solid waste management in Srinagar was submitted to the Urban Development Ministry Government of India for collection and transportation of solid waste from various areas in Srinagar and disposal at Achan land fill site through integrated methods.
 “The project has been sanctioned by the Urban Development Ministry at a cost of Rs 91.97 crores,” Jora said.  He said out of Rs 91.97 crore, 20.44 crore will be spent on collection and transportation of solid waste from various areas of Srinagar.
 While Rs 18.43 crore are for common facilities for the treatment and land filling of remnants, Rs 50.42 crore will be spent for Integrating Municipal Solid Waste processing facility at Achan.
 On an average daily 605 metric tons of solid waste is generated in Srinagar City. “However, we are able to cater to around 450 metric tons of solid waste on daily-basis. We have to be able to address pungent smell at Achan garbage dump. Some vested interests tried their best to close the dumping site but we stood our ground and addressed problems including pungent smell with the help of ERA,” he said.
 Jora said SMC has launched mechanized garbage collection with addition of four units of garbage compactors and 20 units of hopper vehicles to its fleet. “With the introduction of this new fleet of Compactor and Hooper vehicles, about 150 open garbage sheds would be closed. We need support of people to make Srinagar a model City,” he added.
 Commissioner SMC, Dr GN Qasba, on the occasion said the corporation is working to prevent roadside dumping of garbage. He said solid waste management is one of the essential and prime responsibilities of SMC.
 “We have to cater to a population of around 15 lakh spanning in 246 sq kms in 68 electoral wards having 34 administrative wards to maintain proper health, hygiene and living conditions in the City. To achieve cent percent garbage collection, SMC has switched over to mechanized collection of solid waste on house-to-house basis,” Dr  Qasba said.
 He said acting on the directions of Jora, SMC has stopped roadside dumping of garbage in five wards by expediting house-to-house collection. The SMC Commissioner said user charge collection has increased in past two years from Rs 75 lakhs to 300 lakhs in the previous financial year 2013-14.
 “To close open garbage sheds we have installed 300 smart bins in past one year. SMC is committed to make Srinagar at par with best City practices in the country,” Dr Qasba said.
 Commissioner/Secretary Housing and Urban Development, Satish Nehru, said the implementation of the project would improve the existing solid waste management system in Srinagar.