Kerala amends the Municipal Act to implement waste guidelines
17 Aug 2022
3 Min Read
CW Team
The Kerala government is prepared to alter the 1994 Kerala Municipal Act with strict requirements to ensure the 2016 Solid Waste Management Rules are implemented. Currently, the Act's provision on health includes a subsection devoted to solid waste management. It is intended to include subsections for rules for enforcement and penalty provisions that correspond with the 2016 regulations in a specific clause for solid waste management.
Officials claim that the local self-government agency has virtually finished drafting the amendment, which will be brought before the state legislature in a few weeks. The government was recently harshly criticized by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in a case involving the violation of regulations governing solid waste management. The NGT also expressed disappointment that the government had not taken action to close the growing gap between the treatment of solid and liquid waste.
"The Kerala Municipal Act came into effect in 1994 and we need to bring in an amendment in the Act to ensure effective implementation of the rules. The concept of waste is not well defined in the KMA and our aim is to introduce a new chapter in the Act," said an official of the LSGD.
A study presented by the state government to the NGT revealed that Kerala produces over 3,472 tonnes of solid waste each day, of which 781 tonnes are not treated in accordance with regulations. "There are separate stringent rules for disposing of various categories of waste鈥攕olid, plastic, liquid, medical waste, hazardous, construction and demolition, and electronics. The new amendment will detail all these components," said an official.
The proposed amendment will also include steps to reduce public opposition to trash management. "Land acquisition for setting up facilities for waste management often faces public resistance and protest. "To resolve this, we are considering adding a clause which offers relaxation in property tax, employment opportunities, and infrastructure development to the affected parties," said an official.
Furthermore, LSGD intends to include separate sections for waste segregation at the source, an effective method for user fee collection, and simplified procedures for putting in new waste management regulations for effective enforcement. "Due to the time-consuming procedures, municipal administrations are struggling to implement new bylaws." "The new amendment will include elements that will allow bylaws to be drafted and enacted right away," the official stated.
The revision is required for the implementation of the Rs 2,300-crore Kerala Solid Waste Management Project (KSWMP), which is co-financed by the World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).
See also:
Tiruchy civic body may privatise solid waste management
Tamil Nadu Govt to form separate solid waste management organization
The Kerala government is prepared to alter the 1994 Kerala Municipal Act with strict requirements to ensure the 2016 Solid Waste Management Rules are implemented. Currently, the Act's provision on health includes a subsection devoted to solid waste management. It is intended to include subsections for rules for enforcement and penalty provisions that correspond with the 2016 regulations in a specific clause for solid waste management.
Officials claim that the local self-government agency has virtually finished drafting the amendment, which will be brought before the state legislature in a few weeks. The government was recently harshly criticized by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in a case involving the violation of regulations governing solid waste management. The NGT also expressed disappointment that the government had not taken action to close the growing gap between the treatment of solid and liquid waste.
The Kerala Municipal Act came into effect in 1994 and we need to bring in an amendment in the Act to ensure effective implementation of the rules. The concept of waste is not well defined in the KMA and our aim is to introduce a new chapter in the Act, said an official of the LSGD.
A study presented by the state government to the NGT revealed that Kerala produces over 3,472 tonnes of solid waste each day, of which 781 tonnes are not treated in accordance with regulations. There are separate stringent rules for disposing of various categories of waste鈥攕olid, plastic, liquid, medical waste, hazardous, construction and demolition, and electronics. The new amendment will detail all these components, said an official.
The proposed amendment will also include steps to reduce public opposition to trash management. Land acquisition for setting up facilities for waste management often faces public resistance and protest. To resolve this, we are considering adding a clause which offers relaxation in property tax, employment opportunities, and infrastructure development to the affected parties, said an official.
Furthermore, LSGD intends to include separate sections for waste segregation at the source, an effective method for user fee collection, and simplified procedures for putting in new waste management regulations for effective enforcement. Due to the time-consuming procedures, municipal administrations are struggling to implement new bylaws. The new amendment will include elements that will allow bylaws to be drafted and enacted right away, the official stated.
The revision is required for the implementation of the Rs 2,300-crore Kerala Solid Waste Management Project (KSWMP), which is co-financed by the World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).
See also: Tiruchy civic body may privatise solid waste managementTamil Nadu Govt to form separate solid waste management organization
Next Story
Reliance, Diehl Advance Pact for Precision-Guided Munitions
Diehl Defence CEO Helmut Rauch and Reliance Group鈥檚 Founder Chairman Anil D. Ambani have held discussions to advance their ongoing strategic partnership focused on Guided and Terminally Guided Munitions (TGM), under a cooperation agreement originally signed in 2019.This collaboration underscores Diehl Defence鈥檚 long-term commitment to the Indian market and its support for the Indian Government鈥檚 Make in India initiative. The partnership鈥檚 current emphasis is on the urgent supply of the Vulcano 155mm Precision Guided Munition system to the Indian Armed Forces.Simultaneously, the 鈥淰ulc..
Next Story
Modis Navnirman to Migrate to Main Board, Merge Subsidiary
Modis Navnirman Limited has announced that its Board of Directors has approved a key strategic initiative involving migration from the BSE SME platform to the Main Board of both BSE and NSE, alongside a merger with its wholly owned subsidiary, Shree Modis Navnirman Private Limited.The move to the main boards marks a major milestone in the company鈥檚 growth trajectory, reflecting its consistent financial performance, robust corporate governance, and long-term commitment to value creation. This transition will grant the company access to a broader investor base, improve market participation, en..
Next Story
Global Capital Flows Remain Subdued, EMEA Leads in Q1 2025
The Bharat InvITs Association鈥檚 industry update for Q1 2025 shows subdued global capital flows, with investment volumes remaining at the lower end of the five-year range despite a late 2024 recovery. According to data from Colliers and MSCI Real Capital Analytics, activity in North America declined slightly, while EMEA maintained steady levels and emerged as the top region for investment in standing assets.The EMEA region now hosts seven of the top ten cross-border capital destinations for standing assets, pushing the United States鈥� share of global activity below 15 per cent. Meanwhile, in..