Union Minister Naidu urges residents to segregate waste at source

On the occasion of World Environment Day, Union Minister of Urban Development M Venkaiah Naidu on Monday launched a campaign on source segregation of municipal waste for National Capital Region (NCR).

Speaking on the occasion, Naidu urged all the citizens to participate in this campaign for its success.

"Bins with different colours would be used to segregate waste in every house and shop. Green bins would be used for wet waste while blue bins for dry waste," said Naidu while launching the campaign.

The minister pointed that the incorrect disposal and burning of solid waste results in the emission of climate change causing greenhouse gases like methane and carbon dioxide to the tune of 12.69 million tonnes of carbon dioxide in the country per year.

"A recent study has revealed 15 diseases, such as hepatitis, cholera and malaria, caused due to the improper solid waste management. A number of policy interventions have been introduced by the government to encourage processing of municipal solid waste to compost and energy," Naidu said.

On the occasion, the minister also released a special edition of Diamond Toons Comic titled 'Chacha Chaudhary & Swachh Bharat'. The comic book depicts cartoons with a message pertaining to solid waste management.

"A number of policy interventions have been introduced by the government to encourage processing of municipal solid waste to compost and energy. To promote conversion of 'waste to energy', purchase of electricity so generated has been made mandatory by DISCOMs and to promote 'waste to compost', a subsidy of Rs 1,500 per tonne will be provided by the government," he added.

A power purchase agreement was also exchanged between DMRC and IL&FS, in which the green power generated through waste by the IL&FS plant will be purchased by DMRC. This green partnership between DMRC and IL&FS would greatly help in building a Swachh and Swasth Delhi, said the minister.