Waste Management Notes for UPSC Exam
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Issue - waste water treatment in Urban Areas
Importance:
• To meet the water problem: The water crisis in India is increasing at an alarming rate especially
in cities.
o As per the 2013 CAG Report there is an annual shortage of 302 Million Cubic Meters of
water in Delhi.
• Environmental impact: Untreated waste water pollute the streams and have adverse
environmental, agricultural and health impacts
• Problems with alternate mechanisms: The current method of reliance on groundwater
extraction is not sustainable
• In this light waste water treatment provides an interesting alternative.
Waste water treatment in India:
• There are two types of treatment in India- Sewage treatment & Effluent Treatment
1. d) Sewage treatment: It includes treating of water which contains waste generated by
human beings
2. e) Effluent treatment: Includes waste generated from industrial segments
• The norms and guidelines are primarily set by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
Issues with present waste water treatment system:
• Low capacity: Only around 31% of wastewater generated and that too with huge inter city
variations.
• Technological backwardness of treatment plants
• Non-competitive pricing: Thus, it does not appeal to industries.
• Treatment quality is low: Use of treated water limited to some low-end industrial purposes
like gardening, service water.
• Distribution network is weak: to transport treated water
Solutions
• Designing systems that work for local and specific needs
• A specific policy dedicated to wastewater treatment
NEW RULES DEMOLITION WASTE FOR MANAGEMENT OF CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION WASTE
• The Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules, 2016 notified by the environment
ministry aim at creating a process to recover, recycle and reuse this waste.
Need
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• Construction activity is one of the main reasons for high air pollution in Indian cities.
• 530 million tonnes of construction and demolition waste is generated in India annually.
• Currently, managed under the existing solid municipal waste management rules which are
inadequate. Thus,it is not managed properly
Notable points
• Responsibility upon local authorities
o Permission for construction and demotion only after a complete waste management
plan is presented to local authorities.
o To keep a check on those who dispose waste illegally.
• Responsibility upon large-scale generators: they will have to pay relevant charges for collection,
transportation, processing and disposal, as notified by the concerned authorities.
• Emphasis on reuse
o Mandatory for local authorities to utilize 10-20% of construction and demolition waste
in municipal and government contracts to lay drain covers etc.
Challenges
• The main challenge is with respect to proper implementation of the rules.
• Appropriate training is needed for contractors and officials before enforcing the clause.
• Appropriate resources, financial and human power, needs to be allocated to local authorities.
• This will also require scaling up of capacity-building and recycling infrastructure.
Www.iasbio.com | whatsapp for UPSC NOTES 7091958453
Www.iasbio.com | whatsapp for UPSC NOTES 7091958453
