Lok Sabha Question No. 3 (STARRED), answered on 2018-02-02
Subject: Open Burning of Waste Material/ Garbage
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: RATTAN LAL KATARIA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION No. *3

TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.02.2018

## Open Burning of Waste Material/Garbage

## *3. SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA:

Will  the  Minister  of  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND  CLIMATE  CHANGE  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) whether  open  burning  of  waste  material/garbage  is  not  being  checked  despite  orders issued by the National Green Tribunal in this regard;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  received  complaints  in  the  matter  and  if  so,  the  details thereof along with the action taken thereon so far, State/UT-wise;
- (c) whether the Government is considering to take any new steps to check open burning of waste material/garbage; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

- (a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## Statement referred to in reply to parts ( a) to (d) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 3 to be answered on Friday, the 2 nd February, 2018 (13 magh, Saka, 1939) on 'Open Burning of Waste Material/Garbage' by Shri Rattan Lal Kataria.

(a) to (d) The  Ministry  in  supersession  of  Municipal  Solid  Waste  (Management  and Handling)  Rules,  2000,  has  notified  the  Solid  Waste  Management  Rules,  2016.  The  Rules prescribe that no waste generator shall throw, burn or bury the solid waste generated by him, on streets, open public spaces outside his premises or in the drain or water bodies. Further, the Rules direct the waste generators to segregate the waste at source and hand over the segregated waste to  authorised  waste  pickers  or  waste  collectors.  Under  the  duties  and  responsibilities  of  local authorities  and  village  Panchayats,  the  Rules  direct  street  sweepers  not  to  burn  tree  leaves collected from street sweeping and store them separately and handover to the authorised waste collectors.  The  Rules  mandate  the  Urban  Local  Bodies  to  frame  Bye-Laws  incorporating  the provisions of Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 and ensure timely implementation.

The  Ministry  of  Housing  and  Urban  Affairs  (MoHUA)  has  overall  mandate  to  take periodic review of the measures taken by the states and local bodies for improving their solid waste management practices. The Rules mandated various Ministries, Government departments, Municipalities  and  even  village  panchayat  to  abide  by  certain  activities  and  timelines  for effective implementation of the rules. The Rules mandates the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to co-ordinate with State Pollution Control Board and review the implementations of the Rules in the country.

Apart from framing the policy, the Central Government is also supporting the efforts of State Governments in establishing the infrastructure related proper implementation of solid waste management  in  their  states.  MoHUA  is  implementing  the  Swachh  Bharat  Mission  (Urban) project  under  which  various  projects  have  been  taken  up.  Under  this  programme  during  the mission period of 2014-15 to 2019-20, an allocation of Rs. 7424.24 Cr has been made for Solid Waste Management Projects

Hon'ble NGT vide its orders in various matters has directed the individuals as well as the bodies  responsible  for  management  of  waste  to  pay  environmental  compensation  of  amount ranging from Rs. 5000/- to Rs. 25,000/- in case of simple burning or bulk waste burning.

The Ministry has written letters to all the Chief Ministers of the states and the Lieutenant Governors  of  the  Union  Territories  for  effective  implementation  and  compliance  of  the provisions of various waste management rules including Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. Central Pollution Control  Board  (CPCB)  has  issued  directions under  Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to the Commissioners of Municipal Authorities of 53 Metrocities  and  18  State  Capitals  for  implementation  of  Solid  Waste  Management  Rules,  2016. Further,  based  on  various  complaints  received  in  past  in  several  matters,  directions  have  been issued by CPCB under Section 5 of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to East Delhi Municipal

Corporation  (EDMC),  South  Delhi  Municipal  Corporation  (SDMC),  North  Delhi  Municipal Corporation, New Delhi Municipal Corporation, Delhi Cantonment Board (DCB).

The  concerns  regarding  open  burning  of  waste  material/garbage  are  well  addressed  in  the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 and the emphasis of the Government is on implementation of the provisions of the Rules by the respective local authorities, therefore, the Ministry has been continuously following with the State Governments urging them to strictly implement the said Rules.

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