Wednesday, 26 February 2025 | PNS | DEHRADUN
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has expressed serious concern on the acute shortage of sanitary landfills (SLF) and uncollected waste in its report on solid waste management in the urban local bodies (ULB) of the State. The report tabled in the recently concluded budget session of Uttarakhand Vidhan Sabha mentions that on an average, five to eight per cent of the waste generated in the State and eight to 16 per cent in the sampled ULBs remained uncollected. It further mentions that only 3.13 per cent of the collected waste was segregated in ULBs sampled by it. The CAG found that the transfer stations were situated near residential areas, highways, canals, or open grounds.
The report mentions that only two sanitary landfill (SLF) sites were operational in the State due to which the waste is being dumped in open sites, primarily located near highways, rivers or agricultural lands.
The report found that 64 per cent of waste collection vehicles were left uncovered. The audit noticed that the State has only two SLFs under the Municipal Corporation of Dehradun and Municipal Corporation of Haridwar. In absence of SLF, maximum waste is being dumped in open sites.
The GAG expressed its concern on burning of solid waste in the dumping sites as it caused severe air pollution and diseases to the affected population in its report.
The report also pulls up the State administration for lack of monitoring of the ULBs for Solid Waste Management.
The CAG report mentions that though Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board (UKPCB) was to enforce SWM Rules in the State the UKPCB did not review implementation of SWM rules in all the ULBs as per mandated frequency during the period 2017-22.
The report also mentions that the ULBs are not officially recognising the roles of rag pickers in SWM. It says that the rag pickers reduce the burden of space in dumping sites and help in separating the biodegradable and non-biodegradable wastes.
The CAG recommends that the State government should assist ULBs in preparation of solid waste management plans/action plans for effective implementation of waste management and monitor their effective implementation.
It also asks the State government to ensure timely creation of the infrastructure of SWM projects and segregation of waste at source by devising a system and should prevent mixing of segregated waste during various stages of SWM. It says that SPCB needs to ensure that all concerned, involved in SWM obtain necessary authorisation for their functioning and should enforce adherence to prescribed standards by reviewing implementation as per norms.
