Last Diwali, while enjoying the lights and decorations of the beautiful city, staring at the sky, somewhere lapsed in the pleasant view of light crackers, I was proud to feel that this holy festival can be originated in none other but, a beautiful country like India. Being an Indian I am always proud of my country. It is colorful with its variety of religions, festivals and people. Sad part of the story being, when we flip this coin, we have many blackholes, which eats up the light of the country. When the discussion starts on this topic, there are endless topics to be covered. Where there is a scope of filling those blackholes, not with any great hardships.
Let us have a glance at an important issue, how this adorable country is witched. Wherever you travel Indiawide, except very few cities which can be counted on your fingertips all of them presents a view abominable to your eyes, with litter scattered here and there. It is said ‘Cleanliness is next to godliness.’ Clean surroundings and clean ‘you’ brings you mental peace and calmness. We appreciate cleanliness, clean streets and clean areas in some foreign countries. Even if we get a chance to go there, we will maintain the decorum of the city, littering the waste into dustbins. Do we really make efforts for this? Why can’t we maintain this in our country? This is just because there are no rules. There are strict rules for cleanliness in many countries. Rules are followed only when strictly implemented.
In pre-modern times, waste generated was insignificant due to low population density, low social terms of exploitation of natural resources and minimum intervention with nature. Common waste produced during those times was mainly ashes and biodegradable human wastes. Waste produced was dumped on the ground locally with minimum environmental impact. Tools used were made of wood/metal which were reused or passed on to the next generation and kept natural.
With the onset of industrialization, sustained urban growth, and continuously increasing population, build up of waste moreover with inappropriate management causes a regular deterioration in general quality of urban lives and also the terrific impact on environment. If waste would have been completely degradable it would be very easy to manage and also contribute to fossil formation which would have reverted as a fuel, helping mankind. But these days, dominating use of non biodegradable materials such as plastics persists, leading to their accumulation and hampering the environment badly. In some states, plastic bags are banned with a good result. Still, in many states plastics are widely used. There should be strict implementation of banning the plastic bags all over the country. We all know very well that plastics are non degradable. It contributes greatly towards accumulation of waste.
Some educated and aware people say no to plastic bags, and carry their own bags going to market which is an appreciable plead. (Even paper bags, being degradable intervene the nature as it leads cutting of trees). It’s a matter of pity that some responsible people who do not want to litter waste here and there, cannot find any right place to dump them. No provision of dustbins even in the main market of metro cities or metro-train stations.
There are many major cities posing hilly heaps of garbage. Main component of these heaps is the plastic. It has been flashed in news channels many a times. Higher authorities are unable to find a solution neither for this, nor for further prevention of accumulation of such garbage. Some Scientists came forward with the ideas of decomposing those hilly garbage (for eg. in Delhi outer areas), with a considerably low budget than what is actually spent currently. But they were not promoted for this great task.
Collection and management of wastes should be properly regulated. In some states waste management is privatized. Taking a step in waste management appreciably, providing dustbins at regular distances (curbside collection of waste). India is taking steps for proper waste disposal appreciably, but it should implement strict rules for the same with heavy fine imposed on those littering waste. Also, the rules should be the same for all.
In all the major countries the methods for waste management are landfills, incineration, recycling, biological reprocessing, energy recovery, resource recovery, avoidance and reduction. Curbside collection is the most common. Regarding the waste management, mandatory recycling and compositing ordinance should be there, ensuring the goal of zero waste by 2020.
International waste movement is the most alarming issue. Waste transport within a country is controlled by the national regulation, but the trans-boundary movement of waste is subjected to treaties. The BASEL CONVENTION deprecates the movement of hazardous wastes from developed to less developed countries. A state has sovereign right to prohibit the entry of hazardous wastes in its boundaries from any other country. (Nuclear waste although hazardous not fall under jurisdiction of BASEL CONVENTION).
India has both the aspects of crowd, one being judgmental and supportive, other being orthodox sticking to their non-significant ideas. The first category of people, should be supported to carry their logical ideas, for the betterment of the country.
Dr. Richa Agrawal ©
