Role of Urban Local Bodies and Opportunities in Municipal Solid Waste Management

Abstract

Due to inefficient organisational set up and inadequate resources, the municipal solid waste management services of the majority of the urban local bodies fall far short to be desired. There is a sense of urgency prevailing all over India for positive changes in the municipal solid waste management system in the light of the Municipal Solid Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2000. This paper reviews the role of the urban local bodies in municipal solid waste management vis-a-vis with that envisaged in the aforesaid rules as well as in the municipal by-laws and the opportunities available to perform the role. Various systems for the effective management of the urban waste have been evolved and some put into place, as they are suitable for the urban authorities. The systems are ways to augment their resources and capabilities and at the same time enable them to apply the managerial and technological options available in waste management. The urban local bodies can avail central funding under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission apart from the soft loans offered by many national and bilateral funding agencies. The Government of India propagates outsourcing certain waste management services through Public–Private Partnership and involvement of Non–Governmental Organisations.