Lok Sabha Question No. 1499 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-09
Subject: Integrated Solid Waste  Management
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Muhammed Hamdullah Sayeed

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1499

TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026

## Integrated Solid Waste Management

## 1499. SHRI MUHAMMED HAMDULLAH SAYEED:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  reviewed  the  implementation  of  Integrated  Solid  Waste Management (ISWM) processes in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep;
- (b) if so, the current status of solid waste collection, segregation, treatment and disposal in the islands, island-wise;
- (c) whether the Government has identified any gaps or challenges in infrastructure, technology, manpower or awareness for effective waste management;
- (d) the steps taken or proposed to strengthen solid waste management, promote recycling and ensure environmental sustainability in the said Union Territory; and
- (e) the funds  allocated, released and  utilised for solid  waste  management  projects  in Lakshadweep during the last three years and the current year?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a): The Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, provide the statutory framework for solid waste management in the country. As per Union Territory Administration the solid waste management processes for Lakshadweep has been reviewed by Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Government of India, under Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) and Lakshadweep Administration under Swachh Lakshwadweep Abhiyan Scheme.

- (b) As per the Annual Report submitted by Lakshadweep Pollution Control Committee for the year 2023-24  under Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, the status  of solid  waste  collection, segregation, treatment and disposal in the Lakshadweep islands is given below.

There  are  10  inhabited  islands  comprising  of  10  village  (Dweep)  Panchayats  in  Lakshadweep islands  responsible for management of Solid waste. The total quantity of municipal  solid waste generated in Lakshadweep is 18 tonnes per day (TPD), of which 100% waste is collected & treated /processed  with  no  gap  estimated  in  treatment  of  waste.  There  is  no  Sanitary  Landfill  Site  at Lakshadweep island. Door to Door collection of non-biodegradable waste is practiced on the 10 inhabited islands  of  Lakshadweep.  The  kitchen waste  is  managed  by  the  residents  in  their  own localities. The sweeping waste is collected and transported to Central Garbage Depository. For daily collection of non - biodegradable waste, about 6648 waste bins have been placed at various places of  island.    The  non-biodegradable  recyclable  materials  are  stored  in  the  temporary  storage yard/material recovery facility in each island and transported to the mainland periodically.

- (c)  &  (d):  As  per  Department  of  Panchayats,  Lakshadweep  Administration,  transportation  of recyclables to the mainland especially during the monsoon season due to limited connectivity and allocation of land in each island for setting-up of Material Recovery Facility (MRF) are some of the constraints. As per the Annual Report submitted by Lakshadweep Pollution Control Committee for the year 2023-24 under Solid waste management Rules, the various steps taken for effective solid waste management are given below:
- i. Implementation of User fee: Implemented user fee collection in Kavaratti Island since May 2020.
- ii. Management  of  Single  Use  Plastic  (SUP):  The  UT  of  Lakshadweep  Administration  has banned single use plastic items from its territory with effect from 26th January, 2019
- iii. Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) awareness: As part of IEC awareness on SUP,  sign  boards  have  been  placed  at  various  important  locations  at  all  islands  for  the awareness of public.
- iv. Covered  transportation:  05  number  of  closed  Vehicles  have  been  procured  for  garbage collection and transportation.  Additionally,  12  number  of E cart  closed  vehicles are also engaged in waste transportation.
- v. Transportation  of  recyclable waste: Due  to  the special geographical  nature  of  the Lakshadweep, Lakshadweep Administration has continued the transportation of recyclable waste including cement bags into recycling unit at mainland.
- vi. Monitoring: The State/UT Level and island level monitoring committee constituted in all the islands  for  strict  monitoring  and  enforcement  of  solid  waste  management  in  UT  of Lakshadweep.

In addition, works on three Plastic Waste Management Units at Karavatti , Kadmat, and Agatti has been completed.

- (e) As  per  Department  of  Panchayats,  Lakshadweep  Administration,  the  Department  of Drinking Water and Sanitation released an amount of ₹1.93 crore during the financial year 2022-23 for the implementation of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) in Lakshadweep inter alia for the purchase of E-carts to ensure smooth handling and transportation of solid and plastic waste. Also funds have been released for implementation of the Swachh Lakshadweep Abhiyan Scheme across the islands, with the objective of ensuring the smooth handling and management of solid and plastic waste. The Department of Panchayats, Lakshadweep Administration, has provided the following status  of  funds  under  Swachh  Bharat  Mission  (Grameen)  and  Swachh  Lakshwadweep  Abhiyan Scheme.

## Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen)

| Year    | Funds release (Rs.)                  | Expenditure (Rs.)                    | Available fund (Rs.)                 |
|---------|--------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|
| 2022-23 | 1,93,50,000                          | 1,77,502                             | 1,91,72,498                          |
| 2023-24 | 1,91,72,498                          | 49,61,889                            | 1,42,10,609                          |
| 2024-25 | 1,42,10,609                          | 1,06,38,122                          | 35,72, 487                           |
| 2025-26 | Balance funds have not been utilized | Balance funds have not been utilized | Balance funds have not been utilized |

## Swachh Lakshadweep Abhiyan

| Year    | Funds release (Rs.)   | Expenditure (Rs.)   |
|---------|-----------------------|---------------------|
| 2022-23 | 2,09,00,000           | 2,09,00,000         |
| 2023-24 | 4,50,00,000           | 3,91,88,731         |
| 2024-25 | 6,74,00,000           | 6,44,92,738         |
| 2025-26 | 4,00,00,000           | 2,92,83,583         |