Almitra Patel, a member of the Supreme Court Committee for Solid Waste Management, has expressed satisfaction over the solid waste management initiatives taken by the Raichur City Municipal Council. Speaking to media representatives after visiting a couple of areas here as well as the solid waste dump on the outskirts on Sunday, she said that Raichur was better than Bengaluru as far as waste management is concerned.
“I am visiting Raichur for the first time and I don’t know how the solid waste management system was here earlier. Now, it is quite good. Municipality is collecting waste from each household, persuading the residents to segregate waste at source, and the income from the sale of dry waste is being distributed among the labourers involved in the waste management system. I find heaps of solid waste everywhere in Bengaluru. But, that is not the case in Raichur,” she said.
She stressed the need for widespread campaign for creating awareness among people about solid waste management with the active involvement of media.
“We should not expect everything from the administration, which, however, is doing its part. The media should actively get involved in the mission. It should extensively cover stories of those who segregate waste at their houses before handing it over to the municipality workers. Such small initiatives make big difference in encouraging others to fall in line,” she said. Ms. Patel blamed the contractor-oriented system for poor solid waste management in various cities across the country.
“The contractors are paid based on the amount of solid waste they collect and dispose of. To increase the weight of waste, they don’t segregate wet and dry waste. The government should instead pay them on the number of households they cover,” she suggested.
Municipal commissioner K. Gurulingappa, municipal council president Mahadevamma Naik, municipal council vice-president Padma Srinivas and councillors Mahalinga and Vinay were present.
