“Government of India is subsidising CFLs”
Valsa R. Nair Singh, I.A.S., Secretary (Environment), GoM; Chairperson MPCB and MCZMA,shares some of the current thrust areas and future plans
Valsa R. Nair Singh, I.A.S., Secretary (Environment), GoM; Chairperson MPCB and MCZMA,shares some of the current thrust areas and future plans
The current thrust area for MPCB is biomedical waste. It is very hazardous, so biomedical waste from hospitals and nursing homes has to go for systematic incineration. We have established 64 such centres across the state of Maharashtra. Big hospitals in the major cities have their own incineration facilities but the smaller ones need to be provided this. We are planning five more such facilities in Maharashtra. Over the last three months, MPCB has done an inventory of hospitals. Even one bed in a hospital is capable of generating a huge amount of biomedical waste. We have compiled a list of 33,000 medical establishments. Out of this, 27,000 are non-bedded organisations like clinics and pathological laboratories. Hospitals and clinics that serve more than 1000 patients a day are brought under authorisation.
E-waste is another priority. A report was submitted last week on what the capacity for an e-waste disposal facility should be. We will issue tenders and take this forward shortly.
There are a few things that one can do to preserve the environment at the individual level like planting trees and avoiding the use of plastic bags. Remember that every single thing that you dispose has hazards for health, more so if there is not a specific disposal facility for it. Western countries are dumping their waste on us as ‘raw materials’ because it is cheaper for them to do so rather than dispose it off in a scientific and systematic manner. Waste disposal is expensive but our country should not be used as a dumping ground.
We plan to come out with an action plan for climate change because it drastically affects agriculture and coastal areas. We are involving the Urban Development and Non-conventional Energy Department. Abroad they have an air quality action plan with restrictions on the movement of vehicles in areas where the air pollution levels are too high. We have suggested a similar concept to be implemented here as well.
The Government of India is subsidising CFLs. We want to make an example of how they can make a difference by converting one of the government buildings with CFLs. We will then show the electricity bill before and after CFLs and illustrate how they can reduce operating costs.
MPCB is planning to open a Clean Technology Cell, for which the sanction has been received. There are lots of plans on the anvil. We are taking the best practices of what is happening in western countries. India’s population is growing at a very explosive rate so we have to consider what solutions would be suitable here and how they can be implemented.
The Environment Committee has laid down clearance norms for residential projects. When the developer hands over charge to the society, he must provide a corpus fund that is sufficient for three years operating cost of the sewage treatment plant (STP). This ensures that the STP s not wasted. We also insist on 100% water recycling, the waste water should be used for flushing, gardens, etc.
We have suggested to the Urban Development department that Green Buildings should be given reduction in property tax for the initial period.
We are planning environment awareness programs for municipal schools. Initially there will be a pilot project in Navi Mumbai.
The Department of Social Forestry is also working as a nodal agency for implementing the programme of National Green Corps. Under this programme eco clubs are established in about 9000 schools in Maharashtra and various eco-friendly activities are taken up by about 4 lakh ‘green soldiers.’
Under this program, children are encouraged to collect seeds of tree species during holidays, raise nurseries in their schools and celebrate various ‘green festivals.’ A special drive to plant Banyan, Bael, Neem, etc., is taken up. Also, efforts are made to conserve the already existing green cover through eco clubs.