Special campaign to promote nature-friendly practices

Hyderabad: The United Nation Environment Project has announced the theme of 'air pollution control' for this World Environment Day on Wednesday. In keeping with the 'beat air pollution' theme for the World Environment Day, the Pollution Control Board (PCB) has asked the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) to focus its efforts on campaigning for: Ban on burning of garbage and dry leaves; Encouraging public transportation and share/car pooling and cycling; Promoting energy-efficient bulbs and appliances; and, Special drive to impose penalties who are dumping C&D waste on footpaths/ roads. C&D waste is made up of wood, steel, concrete, gypsum, masonry, plaster, metal, and asphalt.

Accordingly, GHMC in a press release stated its intent to ensure: a) air pollution control; b) vehicle maintenance; c) minimizing use of personal vehicle; d) lane discipline; and, e) prevention of burning solid Waste etc.

GHMC will carry out a special campaign on ban on burning. Its officials will visit compost units inparks to orient citizens. Residential welfare associations (RWAs), schools and other premises with gardens and parks will be sensitised to hand over dry leaves to urban local bodies.

RWAs and educational institutions will be roped in as part of the campaign to make their areas/buildings green and zero waste. The target is to ensure zero garbage in events and workshops conducted during this month by minimising usage of disposable cutlery. Specific plans will be devised for waste prevention, recycling, composting, energy recovery from waste, treatment and disposal.

The GHMC will also stringently enforce its rules to ensure "polluter pays." It has also been decided to lay special thrust on composting, bio-methanation plants, RDF plant, co-processing as part of integrated solid waste management.

GHMC has decided to keep a strict watch on garbage burners in open areas which is causing air pollution with high percentage. The GHMC has decided to impose a fine of Rs 5,000 on who burns the garbage and Rs 25,000 those who burns in heavy amount.

Dana Kishore also ordered Deputy Commissioners to involve 5 lakh Self-Help Groups (SHG) women in Greater Hyderabad area to create awareness on plastic ban and to make small businessmen like meat stalls and other vendors to completely forego use of plastic covers. The GHMC is already introducing two dustbins system and 2,500 vehicles for garbage collection for green and safe Hyderabad.

Commissioner said steps are being taken to reduce the use of vehicles in the city and taking action for burning the garbage in Greater Hyderabad. Compost pits were created in each park to make the dried leaves into compost fertilizers rather burning dried leaves. Two rain-water harvest pits will be constructed in each municipal ward.

War on Plastic

On the World Environment Day on Wednesday, GHMC will campaign against single use plastic goods like tea cups in Greater Hyderabad limits. Commissioner Dana Kishore has decided to conduct special meetings with residential welfare committees in each circle and administer pledge of prohibition on plastic use and conduct awareness programs regarding hazards with plastic use. The target is to collect at least two tonnes of plastic waste in each circle.