Mini Switzerland with maxi pollution

This is the title of a travel blog on a famous travel website. This title was refereeing to Khajjiar.

With the increase in per capita generation of Solid waste(SW) and also a corresponding change in the
type of garbage (from bio-degradable to non-biodegradable and biomedical waste), Solid Waste is the
major pollutant in our town. The established system for collection, transportation, treatment, disposal and
complete networking is lacking.

At present, there is no segregation of waste at source, though separate bins have been provided
for the segregation of the biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste by the citizens. There is need to
conduct long term campaign to propagate the concept of segregation of waste at the household level,
waste minimization and advocating the method of home composting and dispensation of waste
generation habits.

Since, significant percentage of SW in our town are organic in nature, an alternative waste management
options such as source separation into organic and inorganic fractions followed by Composting of
biodegradable components of the waste into organic manure through aerobic composting, microbial
conversion and vermin culture through research and development and Technology assessment. The
disposal of recyclable waste through recyclable waste processing units should be developed by Public
Private Partnership. The disposal of segregated inorganic waste for filling of low lands, land fill site, road
construction etc. should be encouraged.

Sanitary landfill for proper disposal of SW is missing in our town. In dearth of sanitary landfill, SW collected
from the town gets haphazardly dumped and deposited into open lands, streets, surface drains, hill slopes
and other unspecified places in unscientific manner and sometimes burnt in open causing health hazards,
public nuisance and degradation of environment and aesthetics. The SW disposal site should be
provided with proper protection like wall or fencing at the disposal site to prevent entry of unauthorized
persons, animal and other human interference etc.

The MC which is responsible body for managing SW is over-burdened. They dont have separate SW
management department for managing/dealing with the SWs.

Ours being a small town, it is likely to establish a proper waste management system; however, these are not
being operated and maintained practically. Some of the possible reasons behind its poor operation and
maintenance may be due to lack of adequate funds; inadequate trained personnel, lack of performance
monitoring; inadequacy in preventive maintenance and lack of management and coordination within MC.

The cooperation of people can be achieved through information, education and communication techniques.
Therefore, strategies for waste reduction, reuse and recycling (RRR) should be necessarily propagated by
organizing campaigning program in the town for deriving long term benefits.

There is no method of monitoring of pollution level at the disposal site. A proper system should be
develop to monitor the pollution at the disposal site, so that the adjoining area is least affected.
Heavy fine should be imposed. This will involve tourists also in understanding the special needs of the
Himalayas and their role in protecting its beauty (For example Kasauli charges Rs. 2500 fine for littering).

The tourism tax for entry into fragile ecosystems (Dainkund and Kalatop and Khajjiar areas) should be
increased substantially. The fund created from this tax should be used for a dedicated purpose of
maintenance of the place. (For instance, Costa Rica has a tourist surcharge, charged from every hotel
based on its occupancy for eco-development).

Impose high charges for parking of private vehicles in markets and fragile areas, which will also restrict
the number of vehicles being allowed into the areas and reduce pollution and congestion. (For instance
Manali has got one on the vehicles entering the town called The Green Tax).

These funds can be used to create separate SW management department for managing/dealing with the SWs
with proper techniques and trained professionals.

IMPHAL MODEL

We can learn from Imphal. They have introduced a new solid waste disposal facility (SWDF). The waste
unloaded at the waste receiving station of the SWDF will further undergo through several treatment steps
such as composting, biomethanation, waste to energy, refuse derived fuel (RDF), incineration and pyrolysis
before final disposal. The proposed SWDF plan for Imphal town comprises with the following units in
conformity with the SWM manual and guidelines of the Government of India. Some of the silent feature of
the SWDF are

i) SWDF will have waste receiving station cum weighing area, fully mechanized composting unit
with bagging facility for compost, sanitary landfill unit along with all infrastructure facilities,
ii) It will also have incineration facilities for managing carcass and biomedical wastes, and
iii) Site development works such as approach road, internal roads within SWDF, fencing,
guardroom, landscaping, store cum workshop area, street lighting etc.