Gurgaon: MCG launches handbook on waste management

Union minister Rao Inderjit Singh inaugurated the waste management handbook and a portal that promotes waste reduction and composting

To improve cleanliness and waste disposal, the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) launched a handbook on waste management and a waste management portal on Friday.

Rao Inderjit Singh, Union minister of state (independent charge) for planning at the launch of the MCG waste management portal in Gurgaon on Friday. (Parveen Kumar/HT Photo)

Both the handbook and portal were launched by Union minister of state (independent charge) for planning Rao Inderjit Singh.

The portal, accessible on the MCG’s official website, www.mcg.gov.in, promotes waste reduction and composting. The ‘Gurugram Handbook for Waste Management’ is being published by city-based citizen initiative, Gurgaon First.

“The handbook and the portal will inspire and encourage different stakeholders to adopt sustainable solutions for waste management and strengthen the efforts culminating in successful implementation of the Swachh Bharat mission,” Singh said.

The waste management portal is an online platform enabling RWAs to collaborate with the MCG for effective waste management. RWAs can register on the portal. Once registered, each RWA will be required to notify a spot or zone for local composting. The MCG will organise training for domestic helps and residents in segregating waste. The MCG has decided on strict implementation of rules pertaining to solid waste management and ensuring people do not burn waste.

The handbook has five distinct sections -- Waste Basics (elementary information of waste),Gurgaon Scenario (waste operations in Gurgaon, the success stories, the pilot projects and the initiatives of NGOs, authorities as well as corporate firms in Gurgaon), Expert Opinion (drawing insights from top national and local experts on waste management) Waste Players (extensive directory of all waste solution providers) and Gurugram Directory (stakeholders list of all the RWAs, schools, institutions, hotels, hospitals in Gurugram).

Shubhra Puri, Founder, Gurgaon First said, “It took two-and-a-half months to write and compile the handbook. Waste strewn on landfills not only pollutes the groundwater but also builds toxicity in the air. It is important that all stakeholders come together to fight this growing menace. We hope the handbook will build awareness about waste solutions and foster hand-holding between different stakeholder groups.”

Besides the launch of the handbook and the portal, many audio-visual films on building awareness about sanitation issues under the Swachh Bharat mission were also showed at the event. Three films on success stories in other parts of the country were also showcased.

The program was attended by 400 people, including RWAs, NGOs, authorities, citizen groups and educational institutions.