In India, we regularly see photographs and news in the media of the rubbish dumps all over in major cities where millions stay. And we mostly talk of the municipal corporations not doing their job. Following these news items, sometimes action follows and the particular area is cleaned a little. But that's it. Nothing further.
The problem is big. The municipal corporations do not have funds, what ever they have is administered very badly and then there are no long term plans. With the call of PM Modi for Swachh Bharat the pace for cleanliness has picked up but not to the level the problem demands.
We hear of dumping sites - the existing ones filled up, no space for new ones and so on. But we rarely hear of recycling plants or making use of the waste for some purpose....
We also do not want to realise as to what this filth is costing on the health front. The health bill of the country can come down drastically, the life span of its citizens can improve, they can become more productive, if only the environment is kept clean.
Another big culprit on the deteriorating health of urbanites is the floating dust particles in air. Unfinished and uncovered work on road sides and construction sites being the main reasons. Here also most cities have no crushing units for construction wastes, which is primarily used for filling. This cannot go on for ever. Priority will have to be given to such crushing units in all urban areas, and it must be ensured that this recycled construction waste is made good use of.
Let us remember SwachhBharat to SwasthaBharat to SamradhBharat.
After posting the above day before, today I read a piece by Isher Judge Ahluwalia and Almitra Patel in The India Express on the subject. An excellent piece which I though of sharing here. It talks of solutions to the problem - A new rapid bioremediation process that can remove garbage hills and end their ill effects, promises a low-cost solution to waste management and disposal.
The link to this is http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/a-city-laid-waste-waste-management-environment-4725115/
