Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Eknath Shinde, and Minister of Housing & Urban Affairs, Hardeep Singh Puri, recently convened a joint meeting to address critical issues related to Solid Waste Management. The virtual meeting included the participation of high-ranking officials, such as the Chief Secretary of Maharashtra, the Municipal Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai, the Secretary of the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA), and other senior government representatives.
As a bustling urban hub, Mumbai faces the significant challenge of managing approximately 7500 tons of waste generated daily from diverse sources, including residential areas, commercial establishments, and slums. The meeting delved into various issues concerning the management of wet and dry municipal waste, as well as the construction and demolition waste arising from infrastructure projects.
Additionally, the progress of approved waste management plants and the bioremediation initiatives at legacy dumpsites in Mulund and Deonar were key points of discussion. A noteworthy consensus emerged during the meeting regarding the potential collaboration with Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) to establish waste-to-bio-CNG plants.
This initiative was identified as a high-potential avenue for creating wealth from waste and promoting a circular economy. In a strategic move, it was decided that a three-member team from MoHUA, chaired by the Secretary of MoHUA, and a corresponding team from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), chaired by the Commissioner, would collaborate to formulate an emergency action plan.
This plan will specifically address solid waste processing and legacy dumpsite remediation for Mumbai, setting the groundwork for subsequent implementation by the BMC. The meeting aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision outlined on October 1, 2021, under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0.
A key objective of the mission, termed 'Lakshya Zero,' aims to remediate 16 crore tons of legacy waste dumpsites, covering nearly 15,000 acres of city land parcels across India. In support of this goal, the Government of India has earmarked Rs 3400 crore for Maharashtra to bolster the implementation of the Swachh Bharat initiative in the state.
