No less an institution than the Supreme Court of the country has considered solid waste disposal one of the huge problems facing the country. While examining an affidavit filed by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF) that there was a total outlay of Rs 36,829 crore under the mission out of which Rs 7,424 crore was made available by the Centre, the Apex Court remarked that there was no shortage of funds for implementing the solid waste disposal programme by the States. However, the court observed, it was the lack of will on the part of the States that this problem has become complicated. The Court observed that the Modi Government has launched Swachh Bharat Mission and disposal of solid waste is part of that scheme. Therefore, it is fully funded. The Supreme Court has desired all the States to pay due attention to the question of solid waste management along scientific methods.
We have been frequently drawing the attention of the State Government towards the urgency in managing solid waste in scientific manner. We have been warning the Government that unless scientific treatment is meted to solid waste, there is danger to the health of the people. This has now been confirmed now by the Supreme Court in its observations. The issue of Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 also came up before the Supreme Court. It was said that one of its provision required setting up of a State Level Advisory Body (SLAB). Regrettably SLAB has not been set up by many States, and if it is set up, no meeting has been held. The Apex Court is very right in concluding that this shows total lack of seriousness on the part of the State Governments in taking concrete steps towards management of solid waste in their States. We hope the views of the Apex Court on the issue of solid waste management will create awareness among the State Governments that a very threatening situation is brewing that could do great harm to public health.
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