Puducherry government will implement the Municipal solid waste management rules, 2016, notified by the Union environment, forest and climate change ministry within a month following a direction from the National green tribunal (NGT).
Puducherry municipality and Oulgaret municipality commissioners – R Chandrasekar and M S Ramesh respectively – made an announcement in this regard in the presence of director (science and technology) and member secretary (Puducherry pollution control committee) M Dwarakanath and PPCC environmental engineer N Ramesh while briefing reporters on October 31.
The commissioners, while outlining the duties of the waste generators as per the newly notified rules, appealed to the general public not to throw, burn or bury the solid waste on streets and open public spaces. They said organisers cannot hold any event that attracts more than 100 people without prior approval of the local bodies.
Similarly all resident welfare and market associations, gated communities and institutions with more than 5,000sqm and hotels and restaurants should within one year ensure segregation of waste at source, they said.
They appealed to the general public to segregate and store waste generated in three separate streams – bio-degradable, non-biodegradable and domestic hazardous waste materials and hand them over to the authorised waste collectors. Every street vendor must keep suitable containers for storage of waste generated as notified by the local bodies. The used sanitary waste like diapers and sanitary pads must be wrapped securely in the pouches provided by the manufacturers of these products and store them as dry waste or non-biodegradable waste materials.
Though there are provisions to penalise the residents and organisations for any violation the government decided against it in an effort to give ample time and opportunity for the waste generators to adhere to the newly notified rules.
The government proposes to process, treat and dispose biodegradable waste through composting or bio-methanation while handing over the residual waste to the waste collectors or agencies as directed by the local bodies.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
