Inspired by the waste management model of Ambikapur town in Chhattisgarh, the Muktsar district administration has inaugurated its Solid Liquid Resource Management project (SLRM) on the pattern of Vellore model that is being promoted by expert C Srinivasan, project director of Indian Green Service and consultant of the Solid Liquid Resource Management (SLRM) project.

Facts :

• The initiative will make Municipal Council towns - Muktsar, Malout, Gidderbaha and the Bariwala Nagar Panchayat – garbage-free.
• Under the first phase, this project will be launched in one municipal ward each of all these towns. The pilot project will start from October 2.
• Self-help groups(SHGs) are being formed to carry this intiative.
• They will get nominal monthly wages from households to lift garbage, segregate it and sell to the scrap dealers at a common place. By doing this, these groups will earn money.
• If someone scatters garbage, he/she will have to pay penalty.
• This project will be carried out by the self-help groups, but the municipal council authorities will supervise it.
• For this project 20-30 people and at least five rickshaws will be engaged in each municipal ward.
• Besides, some dustbins, gloves, caps and tubs will be distributed among SHGs. Some local NGOs have assured to help for the purpose.
• Under the SLRM project, various sites are being set up for collection of dry and wet waste, along with non-biodegradable waste, while initiating teams of volunteers to recycle and segregation of the non-biodegradable waste.
• The volunteers will apply principles of composting and mulching for treating the dry waste.
• With a population of approx 9 Lakhs people in Muktsar District, teams have been assigned and several volunteer were imparted training during workshops on scientific methods of waste disposal.
• Money collected under the waste management process will also be utilised under the Swachh Bharat Mission.

Analysis :

• Earlier in the state, this model was adopted at the Amritsar Army Cantonment.
• It was the first Army cantonment in the country to adopt SLRM, for which it received the Raksha Mantri Award for excellence under the Swachh Bharat Mission.
• The District administration has also started process to shift the stray cattle to cattle pounds.
• Parallel efforts like meetings with the caretakers of cow shelters and cattle pounds are being done to make roads free from stray cattle.
• The idea is a welcome concept of generating jobs and revenue from waste.
• It is definitely an achievement in terms of moving towards the zero waste target.