prasad1
Active member
All of us exasperated with mountains of trash and litter in public places after every major social, cultural or political event can finally hope for some relief. The urban development ministry has issued guidelines asking all municipal bodies to ensure that event organisers are made to clean up their act within six hours of hosting the event. The idea is to collect graded levels of security deposits from the organisers, based on the size of the event, which can be impounded if they fail to clean up.
That is a good beginning to efforts to spruce up public spaces. A determined effort to make users either clean up or pay for the garbage, irrespective of their political clout, will send out a strong message. But this will be fully effective only if different tiers of government act in concert and ensure efficient collection and disposal of municipal waste. Today 1.3 lakh metric tonnes of solid wastes are generated each day in urban areas, only a fifth of which is treated.
Studies show that such waste can be recycled to generate significant amounts of electric power. Segmented waste can also be used to develop plant nutrients. But the current scenario is bleak. The first national sanitation survey carried out in 423 class-1 cities a few years back show that 189 were in the lowest category of red brand and 230 were in the next category. Only four cities were in the blue band while there were none in the green or top band. A radical improvement is an enormous task. But a start towards inculcating a culture of cleanliness will at least have been made if event managers in public places can be motivated to clean up their trash.
Clean our cities: Making litterbugs clean up or pay the price is a good first step - TOI Blogs
That is a good beginning to efforts to spruce up public spaces. A determined effort to make users either clean up or pay for the garbage, irrespective of their political clout, will send out a strong message. But this will be fully effective only if different tiers of government act in concert and ensure efficient collection and disposal of municipal waste. Today 1.3 lakh metric tonnes of solid wastes are generated each day in urban areas, only a fifth of which is treated.
Studies show that such waste can be recycled to generate significant amounts of electric power. Segmented waste can also be used to develop plant nutrients. But the current scenario is bleak. The first national sanitation survey carried out in 423 class-1 cities a few years back show that 189 were in the lowest category of red brand and 230 were in the next category. Only four cities were in the blue band while there were none in the green or top band. A radical improvement is an enormous task. But a start towards inculcating a culture of cleanliness will at least have been made if event managers in public places can be motivated to clean up their trash.
Clean our cities: Making litterbugs clean up or pay the price is a good first step - TOI Blogs
