E-Paper
Waste management rules yet to be enforced in Noida
As per the solid waste management rules, any building, (residential, institutional or industrial) built on a plot of 5,000 square metre area or larger, must mandatorily treat its waste water and solid waste to mitigate the damage to the environment.
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The Noida authority and the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) have failed to enforce solid waste management rules, 2016, despite the rising level of air pollution that is affecting the public.
Noida generates 660 metric tonnes of municipal solid waste that is dumped in vacant plots and remains unattended along roadsides for days. In many instances, the solid waste dumped along roadsides is burnt, giving rise to air pollution.
As per the solid waste management rules, any building, (residential, institutional or industrial) built on a plot of 5,000 square metre area or larger, must mandatorily treat its waste water and solid waste to mitigate the damage to the environment.
“After National Green Tribunal (NGT) orders, we had in May 2017 sent notices to 150 buildings in Noida asking them to comply with solid waste management rules, 2016. However, till date, only three housing societies replied to the notice stating that they are complying with the norms. Therefore, we believe that the remaining 147 housing societies are yet to comply (with the norms),” said BB Awasthi, regional officer, UPPCB.
The Noida authority and the UPPCB merely issue notices to offenders and thereby, fail to enforce the rules.
As per rules, all gated communities and institutions set up on plots larger than 5,000 sq m area shall, within one year from the date of the notification of these rules and in partnership with a local body, ensure segregation of waste at source, facilitate collection of segregated waste in separate streams and handover recyclable material to either the authorised waste pickers or recyclers.
“No gated community or other institution, including the Noida authority, bother to segregate solid waste and treat the same. There is no system in place to treat waste scientifically. As a result, untreated garbage is thrown on the roads and vacant places, thereby causing pollution, in violation of the norms. The respective authorities must enforce rules strictly, failing which we will not be able to mitigate pollution,” said Vikrant Tongad, an environmentalist.
The Noida authority officials said that they are asking gated communities and other institutions to adhere to solid waste management rules.
“We have, through notices, directed 46 buildings to follow waste management rules and treat the waste on their premises. Since the rules were framed this year, it will take time for complying with the rules. I believe most buildings are complying with the norms,” said RK Singh, an officer on special duty, Noida authority.
Noida produces 660 metric tonnes of solid waste every day.
“There is no system for collecting, segregating and disposing of the solid waste, even in gated communities. The authority must act strictly to ensure the rules are complied with,” said Davendra Singh, a resident of Antriksh Golf View-II in Sector 78.
Box:
Noida produces 660 metric tonnes of solid waste every day.
As per rules, all gated communities and institutions set up on plots larger than 5,000 sq m area shall, within one year from the date of the notification of these rules and in partnership with a local body, ensure segregation of waste at source, facilitate collection of segregated waste in separate streams and handover recyclable material to either the authorised waste pickers or recyclers.
