Challenges, Issues and Opportunities towards Management of Solid wastes in Indian Cities: A Case Study of Srinagar City (original) (raw)

Considering the geo-ecological sensitivity, the Himalayan urban centres are seriously struggling to design useful and economical municipal solid waste (MSW) management systems. The Srinagar is the first metropolis and fastest growing city of Western Himalayas and here the management of MSW is a big challenge for local authorities. The aim of this study was to study the overall scenario of MSW in the city. A comprehensive survey was conducted and data were also collected from local municipal department. The results suggested that in most of cases MSW is being dumped openly along roadsides and open spots in the city. Open dumps are responsible for so many negative environmental impacts in the study area. The paper presents the current status of municipal solid waste generation and disposal practices, and different sort of environmental problems arising out of it. Major problems identified include land and water pollution, inadequate technical know-how, shortage of sweepers and collection bins, non-availability of sanitary landfill, uncontrolled disposal of solid waste by people, lack of public awareness, etc. a comprehensive survey of the whole city revealed that biodegradable/ compostable food waste was the major constituent of municipal solid waste (MSW) stream followed by inert material and recyclable materials including polythene, plastic, cardboard and paper. Most of the solid waste generated was found to remain unattended and only 40-45% was being collected that too irregularly by municipal workers and unscientifically disposed off at a dumping ground located in the buffer zone of Anchar Lake, around 8 km north of Srinagar city. Irregular and selective waste collection was the major force behind disposal of solid waste in water bodies, roadsides and open spaces by the people. The study reveals that due to lack of funding and unscientific management the existing solid waste management system is not working successfully in the city. Due to shortage of storage bins, collection efficiency is very low which has severely damaged the environmental condition and also induces to stray dog population phenomenally. The acute absence of waste segregation at the source all types of materials are being disposed along with municipal solid waste which make waste handling very risky especially dumping and disposal points. The lack of governance and inadequate infrastructures for waste collection, transportation and management are the major constrains in designing a suitable MSW management plan for the city. Apart to that unplanned urban settlement and encroachments are also responsible for poor waste collection and disposal system.

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