Air Pollution
Air Pollution
Industrial and hospital waste is considered hazardous as they may contain toxic substances. Certain types of household waste are also hazardous. Hazardous wastes could be highly toxic to humans, animals, and plants; are corrosive, highly inflammable, or explosive; and react when exposed to certain things e.g. gases. India generates around 7 million tonnes of hazardous wastes every year, most of which is concentrated in four states: Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. Household waste that can be categorized as hazardous waste include old batteries, shoe polish, paint tins, old medicines, and medicine bottles. Hospital waste contaminated by chemicals used in hospitals is considered hazardous. These chemicals include formaldehyde and phenols, which are used as disinfectants, and mercury, which is used in thermometers or equipment that measure blood pressure. Most hospitals in India do not have proper disposal facilities for these hazardous wastes. In the industrial sector, the major generators of hazardous waste are the metal, chemical, paper, pesticide, dye, refining, and rubber goods industries. Direct exposure to chemicals in hazardous waste such as mercury and cyanide can be fatal.
Hospital waste
Hospital waste is generated during the diagnosis, treatment, or immunization of human beings or animals or in research activities in these fields or in the production or testing of biologicals. It may include wastes like sharps, soiled waste, disposables, anatomical waste, cultures, discarded medicines, chemical wastes, etc. These are in the form of disposable syringes, swabs, bandages, body fluids, human excreta, etc. This waste is highly infectious and can be a serious threat to human health if not managed in a scientific and discriminate manner. It has been roughly estimated that of the 4 kg of waste generated in a hospital at least 1 kg would be infected. Surveys carried out by various agencies show that the health care establishments in India are not giving due attention to their waste management. After the notification of the Bio-medical Waste (Handling and Management) Rules, 1998, these establishments are slowly streamlining the process of waste segregation, collection, treatment, and disposal. Many of the larger hospitals have either installed the treatment facilities or are in the process of doing so.
hazardous wastes.). Industrial Light and heavy manufacturing, fabrication, construction sites, power and chemical plants. Stores, hotels, restaurants, markets, office buildings, etc. Housekeeping wastes, packaging, food wastes, construction and demolition materials, hazardous wastes, ashes, special wastes. Paper, cardboard, plastics, wood, food wastes, glass, metals, special wastes, hazardous wastes. Same as commercial.
Commercial
Institutional
Schools, hospitals, prisons, government centers. New construction sites, road repair, renovation sites, demolition of buildings Street cleaning, landscaping, parks, beaches, other recreational areas, water and wastewater treatment plants. Heavy and light manufacturing, refineries, chemical plants, power plants, mineral extraction and processing. Crops, orchards, vineyards, dairies, feedlots, farms.
Municipal services
Street sweepings; landscape and tree trimmings; general wastes from parks, beaches, and other recreational areas; sludge. Industrial process wastes, scrap materials, offspecification products, slay, tailings. Spoiled food wastes, agricultural wastes, hazardous wastes (e.g., pesticides).
Agriculture
1) REDUCTION AT SOURCE There are some localities in Pradhikaran Shridharnagar (Chinchwad) where people are involved in process of segregation of solid waste and also recycle of waste by process vermicomposting. Model Community Programme has been adopted under Agenda 21 with the help of ICLEI. Stake holder groups have been formed and they are helping as in this process. 2) SEGREGATION OF HOUSE WASTE SITUATION BEFORE THE INITIATIVE : A large number of households were not using municipal waste containers. Instead, the waste was thrown on the streets or I the nearby open spaces. The waste dumped in the waste containers was not separated into bio-degradable and non-degradable. THE INITIATIVE : The first essential step in the process of recycling of waste is segregation. Instead of separating the waste into different categories, after it is dumped in the waste containers, it is better to do it at the household point. PARTNERSHIP : The PCMC, in collaboration with S.N.D.T. Adult education Dept. started the segregation and collection of waste programme, more than two years ago. It is due to the mutual understanding that the programme is continued from year to year, but there is no formal contract. The PCMC gave grants to the organization to cover the expenses for campaigning, training, preparation of identify cards for the rag-pickers, meetings etc. But the PCMC does not pay the rag-pickers for collecting and segregating the waste. It is the households, which pay for the service. PROCESS : The S.N.D.T. Adult Education Department Selected, through "Kagad-Kach Kachara Kashtakari Panchayat" (a very large union of the rag-pickers), 150 local women for the programme. The number is soon going to be increased to 200, covering 15000 households. These women are trained and are issued identity cards. As the rag-pickers are suspected by the people, they need identity cards to have an easy access to the households. Before the waste segregation programme, the rag pickers used to collect non-biodegradable waste from the municipal dustbins, throwing the dustbins, out of order and spilling the waste in the adjacent area. They toiled for over ten hours a day. Under the programme, they cover a specific number of households and get Rs. 10 per household per month. They collect biodegradable waste from the households and dump it in the municipal garbage-bins. The non biodegradable waste (Papers, tins, plastic, glass) is also collected from the households, and taken away by them for recycling. Each month a meeting used to be held in which the PCMC administrative staff and the functionaries of the S.N.D.T. Adult Education Department participated. Now the work has been decentralized at the four Ward Committee offices.
DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED AND RESULT ACHIEVED A major difficulty arose when the PCMC introduced "Ghanta-Gadi" (Belled Waste Carriage). The housewives preferred this arrangement, as it did not involve any cost, while disposal of waste through rag pickers meant an expense of Rs. 10 every month. RESULTS 1. Segregation of waste has started at the most convenient point, namely the household. Currently it is limited number of households, but will be extended to large areas. 2. The waste has ceased to be dispersed around the municipal waste container. 3. In search of more valuable waste such as better quality plastic, the rag-pickers used to thrust their hands and feet in the waste, exposing themselves to the stink and to the skin diseases. Under the programme of waste segregation and collection from households, this health hazard has disappeared. 4. Under the new arrangement, the work of the rag-pickers has become more organized, reducing their hardship. 5. Owing to identity cards (issued by the PCMC), the suspicion about the rag-pickers has drastically declined, leading to a better social status for the rag-pickers. 3) COLLECTION Dustbins are placed in the city for primary collection of the waste at a distance 80/100 meters. People find this distance reasonable. About 80% people deposit waste in the dustbins and 20% thrown on the roads. The waste thrown on roads is being collected by sweepers deposited in the dustbins. 4) TRANSPORTATION Transportation work for waste is done every day (except Sunday).250 labours have been engaged by the corporation .They transport waste in the municipal vehicles . In addition to this, private contractors have been engaged for this purpose .The waste is transported at various places for treatment . 5)DISPOSAL Following methods have been adopted for solid waste disposal . A)VERMICOMPOSTING B)INCINERATION C)DUMPING (LAND FILL) D)ENERGY GNERATION VERMICULTURE OBJECTIVES: 1. To create and maintain clean environment 2. To recycle the bio-degradable waste through vermiculture composting THE PROCESS: Among the NGOs and other agencies which participated in the meeting which addressed the overall problem of the City's Waste Management the Following two organizations evinced interest in collaborating with PCMC for setting up a vermiculture plant: i) Institute of Natural Organic Agriculture (NGO) ii) N.R.G. Tech Consultants (Pvt. Agency) The PCMC started the project in August 1997 on a plot of 1.5 acres in a municipal park. The PCMC daily collects 10 tons of garbage from the vegetable market and supplies it this
vermiculture plant. In addition, the hotel waste of nearly 4 tons is also collected and supplied for the purpose of vermiculture. Technically vermiculture has several unique features which include the following:a) Earthwork - bacteria ecosystem can treat diverse organic solid waste. b) Low maintenance energy requirement c) Can withstand harsh field conditions d) Processes soil be grinding and mixing with organic matter e) Improve drainage, soil structure and water holding capacity f) Maintains stable population g) Earthworms do not migrate PARTNERSHIP: The PCMC has entered into partnership with "INORA", and NRG Tech. Consultants, a Non Governmental Organization and private agency respectively, for the purpose of setting up the vermiculture plants, and maintaining them for a specified period. The proportion of sharing the fertilizer between the collaborating agencies and the PCMC is 60:40. The PCMC has provided the infrastructural facilities (Plot, water, electricity, etc.) and the waste, transported to the plants. INCINERATION OF HOSPITAL WASTE OBJECTIVES: With a view to provide a major facility for hospital waste management, the PCMC has installed a central incineration plant at its general hospital, namely Y.C.M.H. The objectives of the initiative are : a) Segregation of hospital waste generated at the city's hospitals. b) Disposal of hospital waste through the PCMC incineration plant. THE PROCESS/DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED: The first step was to collect the information about the private hospitals and dispensaries in the city. A survey on the basis of a format, specially prepared for the purpose, was carried out with the help of a Nursing Home Register under Bombay Nursing Home Act 1949 which makes it mandatory for all nursing homes to register with the local authority. There are 89 private hospitals and 276 such as Maternity Homes, Pediatric Nursing Homes, and Eye Hospitals. The hospital bed strength varies from 5 beds to 100 beds. Maternity homes with bed strength of 1020 are large in number. The objective of survey was to find out the details about the hospital/dispensary waste, and the practice of its disposal. Initially, there was no response from the nursing homes. After the reminder, few of them responded. The PCMC persisted and got the full information. The survey has revealed that the individual Nursing Homes do not have a big quantum of waste. Secondly, none of them has a waste management system, and the waste is thrown into the nearby municipal waste containers. The draft rules for bio-medical waste (hazardous) published by the Government of India requires a hospital, having the bed-strength of more than 30 beds, to have its own incinerator for the management and disposal of its infectious waste. At the initiative of the Municipal Commissioner, the PCMC medical officer of Health organized a meeting with the members of the Managing Committee of Pimpri Chinchwad Doctor's Association (P.C.D.A.). As a follow-up of the meeting the PCMC asked the hospitals above 30 bed strength to install their own incinerators in the hospital premises, which could be
used by all the Nursing Homes on payment of charges. During the course of 3 meetings with PCDA, the PCMC successfully persuaded the Nursing Homes to adopt this partnership scheme. The Nursing Homes collect the infectious and non-infectious hospital waste in separate colour code containers. Thus the infectious waste is segregated, collected, deposited in selected municipal hospitals from where it is transported to Y.C.M.H. (the municipal General Hospital),and incinerated. The PCMC has asked the Nursing Homes to segregate and dispose off the waste in the following way:1. Infectious waste (dissected parts of human body, placenta, infectious blood, infectious water drawn out of the body, infectious saliva, swab, dressing material etc.) must be incinerated. Such waste must not be dumped in the municipal garbage containers, and deposited before 2.00 p.m. everyday in the nearest municipal hospital from where it is removed to Y.C.M.H. for incineration. 2. Recyclable waste (used saline bottles, saline bags, plastic boxes, paper boxes, plastic syringes) is collected in Black-coloured containers, and is handed to rag pickers bearing identity cards issued by the PCMC. Such waste is not dumped in the municipal garbage bins or in the containers which are meant for infectious waste. The nursing homes are free to dispose off the recyclable waste independent of rag pickers 3. Other waste (food, vegetable peels) is collected in Yellow-coloured containers, and is dumped in the municipal garbage bins. 4. Used and discarded injection needles are cut and sterilized by the Nursing Homes. They or any other metallic articles are not accepted for incineration. The senior medical officers of the PCMC supervise whether the Nursing Homes are following the above pattern of waste management, and whether the rag pickers are collecting the waste regularly. RESULTS: The scheme has been in operation since January 1998. The impact of the scheme is expected to be reflected in the lower morbidity statistics in the years to come. PARTNERSHIP: The PCMC initiated and maintained an effective dialogue with the professional organization of the doctors in the city. The central incineration plant at YCMH has been installed by Thermax India Pt. Ltd. Which has also trained and guided the municipal staff, in addition to its responsibility for maintenance of the plant for a period of five years. POLITICAL SUPPORT: As the project involved a very large investment (Rs. 23 Lakhs), the municipal Standing Committee's support has to be mobilized. The merits of the project being quite evident, the necessary support and approval came forth. LEADERSHIP: Leadership in preparing the spadework for the project was assumed by the Medical Officer of Health, and the leader-ship in regard to seeing the project through was assumed by the Municipal Commissioner. RESOURCES: Resources for the project were mobilized from the municipal annual budget. LANDFILL :A site 10 hectors is being used for dumping / landfilling by waste. This site is started at northern end of the city known as Moshi. Since the land is at one side of the city another sites will have to be considered to avoid transport cost. This action is being taken.
INSTALLATION WASTE TO ENERGY PLANT ON BOOT BASIS As per guidelines of the Central and State Govt. Corporation has decided to install power generation plant on MSW. Global tenders were invited in August 1997 and wide publicity is given. Following companies had submitted their proposals . 1. GENL (Global Environment Engg. Ltd.) 2. Sudarshan Chemicals Industries Ltd. (Representative of J.M. smith U.S.A.) 3. Excel Industries Ltd. 4. Komex India Engg. Pvt. Ltd. Officers were scrutinized by MEDA and MITCON and final offers were submitted by conducting meetings time to time. GENL & Sudarshan have submitted their final offer on BOOT basis. After final analysis LOI is given is GENL on 25-01-1998 and final approval to installation of power plant and giving the land on lease basis for a period of 29 years is given by G.B. Vide its R.No. dated. Sudarshan Chemicals Ind. Ltd. Is a representative of J.M. Smith U.S.A. based company however P.C.M.C. after consulting MEDA and MITCON has decided to consider their offer after forming a S P V and registered in India. Registration is awaited from J. M. Smith. GENL has got Netherlands based piques solid waste system B.V. technology of bio methanization. They are going to use this technology for P.C.M.C. plant. From 200 TPD MSW they are going to produce 1.5 ml of electricity and 40 TPD manure. The funds for the installation and operation of the plant for 29 years will be GENL. The cost of the project is about 18 crores . The basis infrastructure facilities will be provided by P.C.M.C. and land of 14 acres will be given on lease basis with rate of Rs. 1/- Sq./year. As per Govt. Rate. GENL will be given 10 lack / year as royalty to P.C.M.C.. This is at preliminary level and no final decision has been taken so for.
Geographical distribution
Mineral Belt Location Minerals found
Coal, iron ore, manganese, mica, bauxite, copper, kyanite, chromite, beryl, apatite etc. Khullar calls this region the Chota Nagpur plateau mineral heartland of India and further cites studies to state and the Orissa plateau that: 'this region possesses India's 100 percent Kyanite, 93 covering the states of percent iron ore, 84 percent coal, 70 percent chromite, 70 Jharkhand, West Bengal percent mica, 50 percent fire clay, 45 percent asbestos, 45 and Orissa. percent china clay, 20 percent limestone and 10 percent manganese.'
Central Belt
Manganese, bauxite, uranium, limestone, marble, coal, Chattisgarh, Andhra gems, mica, graphite etc. exist in large quantities and the Pradesh, Madhya net extent of the minerals of the region is yet to be assessed. Pradesh and Maharastra. This is the second largest belt of minerals in the country.
Southern Belt
North Rajasthan and Gujarat Non-ferrous minerals, uranium, mica, beryllium, Western Belt along the Aravali Range. aquamarine, petroleum, gypsum and emerald.