Pune: After the apex court’s strong stricture on the solid waste management issue of states, Maharashtra government has constituted a Regional Monitoring Committee for effective implementation of Solid Waste Management (SWM) rules - 2016 at corporation level. The 12-member committee is being headed by former justice of Bombay High Court P Deodhar. It has a tenure of one year.
The State government Urban Development Department (UDD) has issued an order about formation of the committee for effective implementation of SWM rules-2016 on September 21. A video conference was conducted with all the states in August 2018 and the tribunal has further given directives for effective implementation of the SWM rules, including constitution of Regional Level Monitoring Committees. Pune falls under Western Zone.
Western Zone comprises of states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, and UTs of Diu & Daman, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli.
The Committee includes former justice of Bombay High Court JP Deodhar, Member Secretary of Principal Secretary of UDD of Maharashtra government, Principal Secretary of Gujarat government, Principal Secretary of UDD of Goa, Principal Secretary of UDD of Diu & Daman, Principal Secretary of UDD of Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Member Secretary of State Pollution Control Boards of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Diu & Daman, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli. It will have BR Naidu, Director of Central Pollution Control Board as Representative.
Government will ensure that a separate treatment mechanism for bio-medical waste is in place and in accordance with SWM rules 2016. Committee will examine the reports submitted by state level committees every month. It will submit the report of the workings to the Apex Committee twice in a quarter, and to the Tribunal for the first three initial months of working.
It will monitor compliance of the mandate of SWM Rules 2016 for areas around Railway stations and platforms, bus stands or other places frequented by public.
The committee may interact with nodal officers at appropriate intervals from the Ministry of Railway and monitor the working of state-level committees through interactions at regular intervals, The committee is authorised to give directions to any authority for execution of orders of the NGT.
Government mentioned in its order that regional level committees may meet preferably once a week or at longer intervals as per requirement. Outstation members may participate via video conferencing unless physical presence is required. Regional Monitoring Committee, if required, can solicit the service of the special invitees of the Apex Monitoring Committee and others whom they think could contribute to the cause of monitoring of SWM Rules, 2016.
In accordance with the orders from the NGT, the tenure of the committee will be for a period of one year subject to any further orders. The Western Zone Mumbai-Pune Regional Monitoring Committee will carry out its duty and responsibility in accordance with directives from the NGT referred above and given time to time.
