Waste Segregation Sheds near Waterbodies, Govt Admits!

During the ongoing session of J&K Assembly an interesting question came up for discussion. The Member of Legislative Assembly-MLA from Langate, district Kupwara, Sheikh Khurshid wanted details of Waste Segregation Sheds that have been set up under Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin (SBM-G) near water bodies. MLA Langate had sought these details from the government. The MLA wanted details from each district of J&K with special reference to Langate constituency. The Assembly Question (AQ No 548) sought by MLA Langate reads:

“Location wise details of waste segregation sheds constructed included those set up near water bodies in J&K under SBM Gramin with special reference to Langate constituency, indicating also the funds utilized on the construction of each shed there.”

While responding to the MLA Langate’s question the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department J&K admitted that as many as segregation shelters had been built on water bodies. The reply said that in Langate alone, out of 69 waste segregation sheds that were constructed at a cost of Rs 217.87 lakh in the last 3 years four have been constructed situated near water bodies. MLA Langate, however, expressed dissatisfaction with the response of the Govt, saying that the details provided were incomplete. This author contacted MLA Langate Sheikh Khursheed who expressed dissatisfaction with the reply provided by Govt.

“I have been told that waste segregation sheds constructed across J&K are located near water bodies and even at public places or near schools but the details of only a handful of districts have been provided. I will ask for more details. This is a matter of serious concern that Govt is admitting that these sheds made at taxpayers money have been set up near water bodies which is a clear violation of Environmental laws and Water Act 1974. I demand that action be taken against the erring officers in Govt who allowed these illegal constructions”

 Waste Sheds near Streams in Budgam?

The Rural Sanitation Department has been designated as the Mission Directorate for Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin (SBM-Gramin) in J&K. As this department has less manpower and staff the Block Development Officers-BDOs execute the waste management programme at block level. As the officials of Rural Dev Department-RDD have no formal training and understanding of waste management they are themselves violating the provisions of SBM Gramin, Water Act 1974, Environmental Protection Act 1986 and Municipal Solid Waste Rules (MSW Rules 2016). I know at least two dozen places in Budgam, district alone wherein Segregation Sheds have been set up near streams.

In Beerwah and Khansahib blocks we find a large number of such sheds set up near drinking water sources. In Kralpathri Khansahib block segregation shed has been set up near Hakhkhal Kul. Recently I highlighted this issue on social media & brought this matter into notice of Assistant Commissioner Panchayat Budgam Mr Zaffar Khan. He got the site cleared of waste and assured that site would be shifted. But will the Govt take action against the Govt officials (BDO, JE or VLW) who allowed this construction? In Utterpora village of Beerwah the segregation shed has been set up near Aheji canal which is a drinking water source and similarly in Sail village of Beerwah the waste segregation shed has been set up in the middle of Sukhnag flood basin ?

NOC from PCC ?

I am unable to understand why the J&K Pollution Control Committee-JKPCC which is under direct control of the Central Pollution Control Board-CPCB has been mum over the illegal construction of waste segregation sheds that have come up across J&K in last 3 years under SBM Gramin? The JK-PCC previously called JK Pollution Control Board (PCB) has a clear mandate to intervene as this violates the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974 ? Had these constructions been done by private entities the PCC team would have shut them down and penalized the offenders. If Private schools, car washing centers or small business establishments are asked to get a No Objection Certificate-NOC from Pollution Control Committee why wasn’t this made mandatory for setting up of the waste segregation sheds?

This is MRF not Segregation Shed ?

As a student of waste management and climate action I believe that only non-biodegradable waste like pet bottles, recyclable plastic and hazardous waste like used-diapers or sanitary pads, waste plastic should be taken to the segregation shed which is basically the Material Recovery Facility-MRF. How the Govt coined the name “Segregation Shed” is just not understandable? This isn’t a segregation shed as waste in mixed form is taken there in clear violation of MSW Rules 2016. Technically only the dry waste is to be taken to this place & then it has to be segregated and useful material taken out & the hazardous waste like sanitary pads and diapers incinerated (burned at high temperature). Ironically we don’t even see a single incinerator having been set up in any village under the rural waste management programme? At least one LPG-fired incinerator should have been established in a cluster of 3 to 4 villages. Instead of spending Rs 3 to 4 lakhs for each segregation shed, the government could have set up one Material Recovery Facility MRF in a cluster of 3 to 4 villages at a cost of 12 to 15 lakh rupees & the segregated waste could have been taken there for further segregation and material recovery.

Conclusion

Not even 1 kg waste is segregated or treated in the so called waste segregation sheds. Only dry waste is supposed to be carried to these facilities but that isn’t the case at all when we see these sites across J&K? The kitchen biodegradable waste is to be treated within house premises & Govt provides Rs 5500 for setting up compost pits at household level. Additionally Rs 12000 is provided for making soakage pits to treat greywater / kitchen waste. In many villages across J&K these pits have been made but are not utilised and there are places where the fake payments have been drawn against such constructions and exist on papers only? The steel trash bins procured for billions of rupees across J&K are defunct or have been stolen? The Rural Waste Management programme is a scam which needs to be investigated and officials punished for allowing sham constructions. If this doesn’t happen this author is planning to take up the matter with the National Green Tribunal-NGT, New Delhi. I will request the MLA Langate Mr Sheikh Khursheed and some other like minded MLAs to be the co-petitioners in this case with me.

Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat is an Acumen Fellow. He is Chairman & Founder of J&K RTI Movement