Environmental Pollution and Municipal Solid Waste Management in India

Abstract

The present review deals with the issues related to municipal solid waste management in India. It emphasizes on identification and generalization of the shortcomings towards sustainable waste management for cleaner and healthier urban environment. This chapter is mainly based on electronically available materials. A comprehensive survey of literature was carried out covering studies from every part of the country with special reference to class I and class II urban centres. It is found that although in India, waste management is an obligatory function of urban local bodies, this indispensable system experiences several problems and challenges in almost every urban area. Handling of very large, diversified and ever-increasing quantities of wastes have become a serious issue in larger urban areas like Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi, etc. The main reasons identified behind this are deficiency in the implementation of rules for eco-friendly management of wastes at the ground level; financial constraints specially for mechanization and modernization of existing management system; lack of public awareness to promote segregation, etc., while in small urban areas basic urban facilities and infrastructure for waste management are merely available. But urban areas like Panaji, Indore, Tenali have confirmed proper management of waste through appropriate planning and implication of modern technologies for waste segregation and scientific treatment. Green marketing based on recyclable and reusable materials has also started growing in different parts of the country. Massive awareness campaign is required in association with communities, NGOs and other stakeholders to promote-source segregation and to stop littering and open burning.