How far have the measures taken by the government succeeded in successful management of solid waste in…

Question

How far have the measures taken by the government succeeded in successful management of solid waste in India? Explain.

Ghissu Editorial · Accepted Answer

Measures like Swachh Bharat Mission (2014), the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 and Swachh Survekshan raised awareness, spurred competition among cities and extended rural coverage to nearly 4 lakh villages. Urban processing and compliance remain weak: in Telangana over 60% of waste in test-checked ULBs was dumped unprocessed in 2021-22.

**Introduction**

India’s municipal solid waste⟦1⟧ crisis, driven by urbanisation and economic growth, demands robust government action for sustainable management and public health.

**Key Government Measures**

1. **Swachh Bharat Mission⟦4⟧⟦3⟧⟦2⟧ (SBM)**: Since 2014, SBM (Urban and Rural) has advanced source segregation, waste collection, and infrastructure, with ==Telangana’s urban local bodies== showing mixed results.

2. **Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016**: These rules enforce three-stream segregation and assign responsibilities to waste generators, promoting decentralised processing and waste-to-energy solutions.

**Evaluation of Success**

1. **Swachh Survekshan and Capacity Building**: The survey’s expansion to over 4,200 cities by 2020 incentivised improvements; capacity-building by the National Institute of Urban Affairs enhanced governance.

2. **Rural Progress**: Nearly 4 lakh villages have adopted solid and liquid waste management systems under SBM (Rural), marking significant rural gains.

**Challenges and Gaps**

1. **Infrastructure and Compliance Deficits**: In ==Telangana==, audits reveal 60%+ waste dumped unprocessed in test-checked ULBs, and 37% of SBM funds remain unutilised.

2. **Data and Monitoring Issues**: Patchy data and weak monitoring hinder evidence-based policy and effective implementation.

3. **Informal Sector Neglect**: Lack of legal recognition and poor coordination among agencies limit integration of informal waste pickers.

**Way Forward**

1. **Strengthen ULB Capacities**: Provide financial, technical, and managerial support for robust SWM plans.

2. **Formalise Informal Sector**: Recognise and integrate informal waste workers into formal systems.

**Conclusion**

While government initiatives like SBM and SWM Rules have advanced waste management, persistent infrastructure, governance, and behavioural challenges constrain full success, requiring focused reforms.

How far have the measures taken by the government succeeded in successful management of solid waste in India? Explain.

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