Call for innovation in waste management

Solid waste management is the most difficult task in municipal administration, said Mayor K Chandrika, while speaking at the inaugural session of the seminar on ‘Innovations in municipal administration’ organised by the Institute of Management in Government - Kerala (IMG) and the Kerala State Planning Board.

 Chandrika said solid waste management is not a problem just limited to Vilappilsala or Thiruvananthapuram. ‘’In these days of increasing urbanisation, innovations in solid waste management are absolutely necessary. We need innovations that can be taken forward to the future,’’ she said.

 Chandrika also called for massive awareness campaigns among the public on the need for solid waste management, while her counterpart from Kozhikode said that one of the fundamental functions of any municipal administration is to improve the quality of life of its residents.

 Kerala State Planning Board Vice-Chairman K M Chandrasekhar delivered the inaugural address, while Additional Chief Secretary and IMG Director Nivedita P Haran gave a brief introduction to the seminar series and its importance.

 In the technical session, Maharashtra Chief Information Commissioner and former Maharashtra chief secretary Ratnakar Gaikwad spoke on urban sanitation and cleanliness, with a special reference to how Pune dealt with the problems of sanitation.  ‘’The access to sanitation facilities was just 1:2,500 when we started out in 1999. Now, it has come down to one toilet for every 70 or 80 people,’’ Gaikwad said.

Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation senior city engineer Mohan B Dagaonkar gave a talk on integrated storm water disposal system in Navi Mumbai, while senior engineer Subodh K Mule spoke on water supply access to the urban poor.

(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest)