State to replicate cluster-wise development of landfill sites

He added that initially the ‘B’ and ‘C’ class councils and gram panchayats will be taken under this cluster wise development plan. Subsequently,the issues of SWM of the 22 corporations in the state will also be addressed through this plan. “The development or upgradation of the landfill sites of about 207 ‘B’,‘C’ class councils and gram panchayats in the state will be focused under this project,” Shah said.

As per the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB),the present waste generation in terms of total waste generation in Maharashtra with respect to the Corporation area,‘A’ class Council & ‘B’ & ‘C’ class Municipal Councils comes to the tune of 64.66 per cent,25.88 per cent and 9.46 per cent respectively.

The state government has lauded the model of upgrading the solid waste management system for local bodies as it feels there is lack of technical knowledge for processing and disposing of solid waste. “Presently the SWM in almost all the ULBs is handled unscientifically—by burning the waste,and insufficient and irregular waste collection,which creates environmental pollution and hygiene issues. The processing of MSW as per the provisions of MSW Rules is not practised by the ULBs. It requires basic infrastructures for collection,transportation,and processing of sanitary landfill sites,” Shah added.

Another issue faced by ULBs is the lack of finance to upgrade services; therefore development of these sites is also being explored to be undertaken with financial assistance from private parties. “Public-private partnership is one model that could be taken up for this,but we’re studying other models also,” the former SWM chief engineer said.

Meanwhile,the MMRDA is studying on how to upgrade the conditions of landfill sites in 13 ULBs in MMR on a business model,preferably PPP. These municipal councils are Ambernath,Badlapur-Kulgaon,Virar,Nalasopara,Navghar-Manickpur,Vasai,Panvel,Uran,Khopoli,Karjat,Matheran,Pen and Alibaug.