Lok Sabha Question No. 127 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-03
Subject: Solid Waste Management in Tourist Places
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Ms. Praniti Sushilkumar Shinde

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.127

## ANSWERED ON 03.02.2025

## SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN TOURIST PLACES

127.  MS. PRANITI SUSHILKUMAR SHINDE:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  implemented  any  initiatives  to  address solid waste management issues at tourist places of the country;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  including  the  recorded  positive  outcomes  of these initiatives, and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  any  plans  to  collaborate  with  State Governments to enhance solid waste management efforts and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM

(a) to (c): Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, in collaboration with the  Ministry  of  Tourism  has  launched  the  Swachhata  Green  Leaf  Rating  in Hospitality Facilities, based on their compliance to Safe Sanitation practices. This  rating  system  has  been  designed  in  line  with  the  Travel  for  Life commitment  of  Ministry  of  Tourism  under  Mission  LiFE  and  will  bring  in voluntary  but  focused  efforts  from  the  tourism  and  hospitality  sector  for achieving  sanitation  targets  embedded  in  the  Sustainable  Development Goals. The safe sanitation practices under the Swachhata Green Leaf Rating system are expected to enhance awareness and collaborative achievements for common goals in the tourism hospitality sector as follows:

- i. Improved and safe sanitation facilities and Faecal Sludge Management in these facilities.
- ii. Segregation  of  solid  waste  at  source  and  promoting  sustainable forward linkages.
- iii. Litter free facilities.
- iv. Encouraging  3Rs  (Reduce,  Reuse  and  Recharge)  in  Grey  Water Management for circularity and resource sustainability.
- v. Promoting alternatives to single use plastics.

It  is  envisioned  that  this  Rating  System  would  be  taken  forward  through active  public  participation  of  hospitality  facilities  such  as  Resorts,  Hotels, Homestays,  and  Dharmshalas,  with  or  without  restaurants,  to  voluntarily engage  and  contribute  towards  cleaner  and  more  sustainable  tourism practices  in  India.  It  is  further  expected  that  the  operators  of  these hospitality facilities will develop adequate infrastructure, adopt good practices,  and  provide  support  in  creating  awareness  on  sanitation  and cleanliness as a part of responsible tourism. Under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen), 100 iconic heritages, spiritual and  cultural  places  in  the  country  are  to  be  taken  for  a  special  clean-  up campaign as Swachh Iconic Places (SIP). In  four  phases,  39  Iconic  Places have been selected as of now and out of these 39 sites total 29 sites have been mapped with Public Sector Undertaking (PSU)  partners.  The  SIP  was launched  with  the  vision  of  Clean  India  at  the  cultural  heritage  Sites  with high footfalls. The objective of SIP is to achieve a distinctly higher level of Sanitation/Cleanliness at these places, especially on the peripheries and in approach areas. This project is being coordinated by Department of Drinking Water  and  Sanitation,  Ministry  of  Jal  Shakti  in  collaboration  with  Union Ministries Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture, State/UT Government, Municipal and local agencies with support from leading Public Sector Undertakings and Private Companies through CSR funds.

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