Implementation of MSW Rules:

· CPCB has furnished Annual Report on status of implementation of MSW Rules, 2000.

· It has been observed that process of implementation of the Rules has been very slow.

· MoEF has requested SPCBs/PCCs to formulate action plans for management of MSW in towns having population more than 20 and 50,000 depending on the size of the town.
· CPCB initiated Regional reviews for assessing the progress of implementation. In the northern region, states of Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Chandigarh, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttranchal and Uttar Pradesh have been covered.

Demonstration Projects

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has launched a scheme on 'Setting up of model facilities for demonstration of management of Municipal Solid Waste for implementation of the Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 2000'. The objectives of the scheme is to build up capabilities of local bodies, to document and assess the actual performance and to disseminate information at the State and national level. The scheme is implemented on cost sharing basis (50% by local body or any other State Government agencies and 50% by CPCB/ MoEF).

During the year, CPCB has initiated such projects in Chandigarh, North Dumdum (West Bengal) and Barrackpore (West Bengal). The activities of the demonstration project are:

(i) Compliance with Schedule II of the Municipal Solid Waste Rules relating to collection, segregation, storage, transportation, processing and disposal of municipal solid waste.

(ii) Setting up of waste processing facility complying with schedule II and IV of the Rules.

(iii) Setting up of waste disposal facility in compliance with Schedule II, III and IV of the Rules.
Process for procurement and setting up of equipments / tools and other related facilities for management of MSW have already been initiated by the respective executing agencies under the projects.

Health Status of municipal solid wastes management workers in Kolkata and Chennai

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) with the support of the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has initiated studies on 'Health Status of conservancy staff and other community associated with municipal solid wastes management' in Kolkata and Chennai through Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata and Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute, Chennai, respectively. The study aims to; assess the health status of conservancy staff, population living near the landfill sites and waste processing plants, analyze their working conditions, and conduct ambient environmental quality, aero-biological studies in and around the waste dumping sites.

The study include questionnaire survey for conservancy staff, rag pickers and residents living in vicinity of landfill sites. An appropriate sample size of 300 persons has been planned for detailed clinical examination.

Application of MSW compost on agricultural crops

A detailed study has been completed on the application of compost made out of municipal solid waste on agricultural crops, in collaboration with Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Delhi with the objective to characterized nutrient and hazard potential of compost of agricultural crops. The field experiments were carried out under upland conditions on a sandy loam soil at IARI farm. Based on detailed field investigation, the optimum doses for application of compost have been worked out. A detailed guidelines for utilizing the municipal solid waste compost have been prepared.

Operating Manual Guidelines on implementation of MSW Rules

An operating manual on implementation of Municipal Solid Waste Rules has been prepared. This manual will be useful for the engineers working at local bodies, State Pollution Control Board and others concerned for implementing various provisions of MSW Rules.

Status of methane emissions from municipal solid waste disposal sites

A study has been undertaken in collaboration with National Environmental Engineering Institute (NEERI) and Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) for assessing emissions of methane from the waste disposal sites. Through the on-going study, emission of methane from different size of landfills will be estimated.

Status of Municipal Solid Waste in Delhi

The salient observations made during recent inspections of municipal solid waste receptacles in Delhi are as follows:

· Out of 877 waste receptacles inspected, only 44% have been found maintained properly in respect of their sanitary and physical conditions which is slightly higher than 21st round of inspection. This figure is substantially higher than the 23% and 33% observed in properly maintained condition during 20th and 21st rounds of inspection, respectively. The increase in properly maintained waste receptacles observed because of improvements in a few specific (particularly MCD south, West & Shahdara North) zones.

· Out of 150 waste receptacles inspected in New Delhi Municipal Council, 37% have been found in good condition with respect to structure and sanitation. The waste receptacles in the NDMC area, in general, are properly maintained.

· Out of 64 waste receptacles inspected in the Delhi Cantonment Board (DCB) area, it has been observed that 58% waste receptacles were in properly maintained condition. Open sites are continuing to be designated as waste receptacles particularly in Najafgarh and Narela Zones of MCD, despite their existence, many dhalaos are not in use as the garbage is not brought to these dhalaos and collected from open sites. Moreover, many dustbins in MCD areas become open sites as they are in broken state due to improper use of loaders.

· Out of 877 waste receptacles inspected in the MCD area, 271 waste receptacles (31%) have been identified during the current round of inspection as hotspots that require immediate action to improve sanitation and physical conditions. The number of hotspots in NDMC and DCB areas are 10 each.

All the three currently available landfill sites in the NCT of Delhi, namely Bhalswa, Ghazipur and Okhla are operated and maintained by the MCD. The total quantity of garbage collected and dumped during the 4 months period of September- December, 2003 was 9,23,167 MT at an average of about 7,693 MT/day. The break-up of the quantity of garbage dumped at each of these sites during the period of Sept.- Dec, 2003 is as follows:

It was observed that all the three landfill sites are still being operated over the capacity. It was reported that the new land fill site is under final stage at Jaitpur and an other site at Nerela- Bawana Road is under EIA stage. There is an urgent need to develop and operationalize new landfill sites, as all the three existing landfill sites (Bhalswa, Ghazipur and Okhla) have exhausted their life since about last 6 years and are overflowing with dumped garbage without adequate environmental considerations.

Environmental Impact study around Municipal waste dumping sites in Vadodara

Municipal garbage contain various pollutants which contaminate the surrounding environment when dumped and disposed unscientifically. In Vadodara city, there is no scintifically developed garbage dumping site. However, at present municipal wastes are being dumped at Vadsar in unscientific manner.

The study was aimed to understand the levels of contamination of the environment in different seasons due to municipal wastes dumping at Vadsar. The samples were collected and analysed during various season. The analytical results of sampling round of monsoon season depicted high values of COD, Conductivity, alkalinity and TDS in ground water around the municipal waste dumping site. The Vishwamitri river passing near dumping site has also been found contaminated. Analysis of river water samples shows that presence of very high TKN, Ammonical Nitrogen, Conductivity, COD and Organic load. The dissolved oxygen was absent in the river water.