BERHAMPUR: The only way to meet the rising problem of accumulated solid waste in urban areas is new managerial approach involving public-private cooperation, opined experts at a two-day national seminar on solid waste management inaugurated in the city on Saturday.

State Minister for Urban Development K. V. Singhdeo inaugurated this seminar organised by 'Institute of Engineers'.

Professor of economics from IIT Kanpur, Binayak Rath said improper management of solid waste had started affecting sanitation of medium townships like Berhampur. The local self-governance structures that are weak and corrupt are proving to be incapable to handle this menace, he said. Apart from it rules on management of municipal waste do not clearly identify the role and responsibilities of local bodies towards their safe disposal.

Urban Development Minister Singhdeo said although it is mandatory for all local urban bodies to make arrangements for scientific disposal of solid waste yet their weak financial position is the major stumbling block. There are also some technical bottlenecks. According to Mr Singhdeo there are plans to install a plant to generate electricity from wastes generated from Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. But to run such a power plant viably needs at least 550 tons of waste every day while the waste generated from Bhubaneswar and Cuttack is around 450 tons per day.

Urbanisation effect

The Special Secretary of Housing and Urban Development department, A.K.Panda pointed out that the composition of waste has also undergone change due to urbanization. Wastes now contain plastic and synthetic materials in place of biodegradable organic materials that take very long time to decompose. According to him the system of collection of waste is also too primitive in our country in comparison to developed countries. He was also of the opinion that public and private participation is the only way to sort out the problem of solid waste disposal. "For this much change has to be brought in the mind-set of our citizens who are not yet ready to pay for common services they get," he said.

Most of the experts at the seminar felt privatization is not the solution for waste management in our country. But according to them it is high time for the local bodies to join hands with private parties, citizen committees and NGOs to save urban areas from the piling menace of solid waste.

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