Nobody has any idea of what went wrong this time or how to avoid a similar catastrophe in the future. Every time one of these anthropogenic disasters occurs, accusations of nepotism, corruption, inefficiency, and lack of accountability are made.
Depending on the weather direction, the smoke will continue to surround the land dump and its surroundings for a radius of more than 25 km. Understanding the KMC’s waste management framework, its participants, and the responsibilities required of them is important.
Source: The New Indian Express
The traditional failures of decentralized administration are supported by Brahmapuram. The state government and the Kerala High Court have frequently intervened in Kochi’s garbage management over the past 25 years and issued orders. The Municipal Solid refuse (Management & Handling) Rules (MSW Rules), which came into effect in 2000, and the high court’s instructions made it the KMC’s responsibility to set up the infrastructure for managing the solid refuse produced in the city.
Here, the key issues are who makes the decisions and how trash is managed. What knowledge and capabilities have been established within the KMC to evaluate and classify the garbage generated in Kochi, and what are the scientific approaches to treating them? Even though the MSW Rules specify the duties of a regulator like the pollution control board, how effective and efficient is its monitoring system, and how accountable is the regulating institution? Is it really autonomous and subject to performance audits?
Most guidelines for the appropriate garbage processing method in Kochi are provided by the state government. What are the institutional capabilities of those engaged in management and decision-making, even at the state level?
Source: Study IQ IAS
Waste management in a city necessitates an analysis of the regional ecosystem, and it is an ongoing process that must keep up with shifting trends in urban growth. For the local body administration to effectively handle the rapidly evolving trends in consumption patterns, they must be properly equipped.
They cannot be forced to accept the choices coming from the state capital. The effectiveness of the MSW Rules depends on raising awareness and involving the community while utilizing scientific data. When defining the responsibilities and positions of different stakeholders, there shouldn’t be any conflicts of interest.
Let’s pray that all Indian state governments take note of the Brahampuram incident and use it as a wake-up call.
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