New plans for city’s waste management

Following the directives of chemical and fertilizer ministry of central government, Maharashtra government has created a steering committee, to propel the idea of waste management in the state. The nine-member committee, formed under principal secretary of Urban Development-II, consisting of state level officials along with MCGM commissioner Ajoy Mehta, has been asked to create an action plan for City Compost project of the government.

According to central government officials, from chemical and fertilizer department, 20 per cent of the solid waste out of the total 620 LMT will be turned into compost. The Sukanu Committee has been asked to increase the amount of compost created through the total solid waste created by different municipal corporations across the state.

The committee will also consist of commissioners from Nashik Municipal Corporation and Nanded-Waghala municipal corporations, which are as of now being hailed for their compost creation plans. Apart from them, managing director of National Chemicals and Fertilizers (NCF) and head of Swachh Maharashtra Mission are part of the committee as well. The committee has been asked to meet every month to brainstorm on the issue of solid waste management.

The committee is asked to prepare an action plan for waste management of agriculture sector and to ensure that the compost is also sold at profitable rate across the state. “We are looking at treating 100 per cent solid waste created by the cities of the state. The members of the committee are to ensure that fertilizer industries are well connected across the state and are issued necessary certification,” said a senior state official.