City misses rank despite improved efforts

Improved efforts in solid waste management and impressive citizen feedback have not helped GVMC retain its third rank in the Swachh Survekshan 2018, the ourcome of which was announced on Wednesday.

The marks it scored and rank obtained in two million population cities will not be known until the awards ceremony the date for which is yet to be finalised, it is learnt.

“It is not that the measures that we take alone matter. Other cities may have done better,” says Chief Medical Officer (Health) A. Hemanth.

Emphasis in this Survekshan is on solid waste management and both Indore and Bhopal that notched up the first two ranks have waste-to-energy plants, he says.

Besides, both the cities are able to convert 85 per cent of their organic waste into compost.

In comparison only 150 to 200 tonnes of the 900 tonnes of solid waste generated a day is being segregated in GVMC making 30 to 40 tonnes of compost. To make the grade at least 300 tonnes of compost has to be made.

In this respect more citizen participation and co-operation is required as only the segregated waste collected at the doorstep or separated later can be turned into compost, Dr. Hemanth says.

The waste thrown in dumper bins goes directly to the compost yard. Garbage thrown into storm water drains also do not contribute to compost-making.

Among other parameters, 1.5 lakh citizens provided feedback in the Survekshan. In the 'Innovations and new practices' GVMC introduced QR Code for immediate clearing of dustbins.

Feedback

The Central team visited areas it identified and obtained feedback on its own too. It expressed satisfaction with the documentation process.

The waste-to-energy plant is expected to be ready towards the end of the year.

GVMC now plans to take up intensive training of its sanitary staff from maistries, sanitary inspectors and observers in 10 batches of 40 each to further tone up the segregation of waste at the doorstep.