Poll Res. 39 (4) : 1122-1130 (2020) Copyright © EM International ISSN 0257–8050 IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES IN SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT OF PATNA: AN APPRAISAL OF PATNA MUNICIPAL CORPORATION SNEHA SWARUP1, USHA VERMA2 AND RAVISH KUMAR3 1Department of Geography, S.S. College, Jehanabad, Magadh University, Bodh Gaya, Bihar, India 2Department of Geography, Patna University, India 3Department of Architecture, NIT Patna, India (Received 28 March, 2020; Accepted 2 May, 2020) ABSTRACT In Patna the solid waste has become an integral part of man’s day –to-day activities. The rapid population growth and urbanization has given rise to the total quantity of waste generation of Patna (M. Corp). According to Patna, City Development Plan (CDP- 2010-31) report about 65% of the total waste generated in Patna Municipal Corporation is collected and rest 35% of waste remains unattended. The report of Patna Master Plan 2031, states that only 60% of total collected waste is transported to primary disposal sites on day to day basis. A major part of waste remains unattended in Patna (Patna Municipal Corporation) due to the inefficient solid waste disposal strategy of PMC, leading to various problems related to human health hazard, environmental pollution and thus un-stabilizing the urban ecosystem of the Patna (Patna Municipal Corporation). This study is an attempt to assess the solid waste management strategies implemented in Patna (Patna Municipal Corporation), Bihar, India. The objectives of the present research work are -to identify the sources and areas of solid waste generation; problems related to solid waste disposal and to assess the awareness among people regarding solid waste management strategy with civic sense. An appraisal of existing solid waste management system of Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) drives researcher to suggest some measures for a sustainable solid waste management system. The existing management tries its best to sort out the emerging issues related to SWM to some extent, but in some areas present management system has failed to solve the growing environmental threat in the city. KEY WORDS : Solid waste management (SWM), Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC), Patna Master Plan 2031, Urban Local Body (ULB) INTRODUCTION effects caused by the indiscriminate disposal of solid wastes, especially of hazardous wastes (Peay et al., Solid waste management (SWM) is a discipline 1988). which is considered as an essential municipal service Patna high court termed thrice “Patna as to be a for protection of environment of city and health of garbage city of the country” twice in 2005 and once citizens. The strategy for solid waste management is in 2008 (Verma, 2012). This is the reason which a planned system of effectively controlling the compels the researcher to select Patna Municipal generation, storage, collection, transportation, Corporation as the study area. According to various treatment-procedure and disposal or utilization of report published in media as well as by government solid wastes in a sanitary, aesthetically acceptable bodies like state pollution control board (SPCB), and economical manner (Bhanu et al., 2014 and Rai, central pollution control board (CPCB) and Urban 1996). The main motive of solid waste management Development and Housing Department, aims at minimizing the adverse environmental approximately rupees 41 crore till 2012 was abruptly IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES IN SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT OF PATNA 1123 sanctioned to Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) homogeneous mass of wastes; heterogeneous wastes for garbage disposal and to set up a waste plant. generates mainly from urban community while However, nothing came out of these proposals, till accumulation of agricultural, industrial and mineral date i.e 2019 Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) wastes accounts for homogeneous wastes. only acquired an 80.05 acre of agricultural land to In simple words, solid waste can be defined as make landfill station on the outskirt of the city any unwanted and discarded materials arise due to (Verma, 2019 and Patna Master Plan, 2013). different human activities. Solid wastes are not The rapid growth of urbanisation results in pollutants, but it is having the potentiality to become population growth and rapid growth of urban pollutant if handled improperly and disposed at dwelling units in Patna Municipal Corporation wrong place (Boojh, 1996). It is also not possible to (PMC) which are largely unplanned adding avoid waste. Thus, the only way is to properly proportion to various problems related to solid manage the solid waste from collection of waste, waste. Improper planning leads to congestion in transportation by waste vehicles and finally the streets as a result hindrance occurred in waste disposal of waste in a planned way to keep collection as the waste vehicles cannot reach the environment and human healthy (Majumdar, 2001). place allowing waste to remain unattained. At Solid Waste Generation in Patna (M.Corp) present 1000 metric tonnes of waste are generated by PMC per day and “a large chunk of garbage leftover The population size plays a significant role in cities in different parts of the city making the environment with respect to the quantity and quality of garbage unhealthy and unpleasant” (Verma, 2012). The lack generated (Singh et al., 1988). It also varies according of financial resources and inadequate infrastructure to the nature of residential, commercial and of Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) results in industrial areas, occupational structure, income improper waste disposal adding other dimensions level, food habit, and nutritional intake, level of to the ever-rising cycle of problems (Jain, 1994 and education, living conditions and lifestyle of Zurbrucc, 2003). inhabitants. Considering the present situation of Patna Status of Patna on National Level Municipal Corporation (PMC), the author selected Patna (M. Corp) area. The study has been carried A survey in 46 cities of India was conducted during out to find the problems related to solid waste 2016-17 by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). disposal and the different strategies adopted by The quantity of waste is continuously increasing Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) for solid waste year after year as clearly visible in Table 1. It shows management within the city. that in big cities the quantity of solid waste is much Solid waste may be defined as organic and higher compared to smaller cities according to inorganic waste materials produced by households, population strength. The city ranks no.1 Mumbai commercial, institutional and industrial activities (population wise) generates maximum waste of which have lost their value in the eyes of the first 11000 tonnes per day, followed by Delhi 8700 tonnes owner, while some other person may find the same per day, Bangalore 3700 tonnes per day, Chennai useful, if the (original) owner does not want it, it is 5000 tonnes per day, and Hyderabad 4000 tonnes than called a “waste” (Ramullu and Shoba 2008). per day. Whereas Patna also comes in category of Solid waste encompasses both heterogeneous and high population as it ranks 19th most populous city Table 1. Solid Waste Generation in Top 5 Metro Cities, (Population Wise) and Patna Rank of Name of Population Waste Generation in Tonnes Per Day(TPD) Cities City (2011) 1999-2000 2004-05 2010-11 2015-16 1 Mumbai 12442373 5355 5320 6500 11000 2 Delhi 11034555 400 5922 6800 8700 3 Bangalore 8443675 200 4669 3700 3700 4 Chennai 7088000 3124 3036 4500 5000 5 Hyderabad 6731790 1566 2187 4200 4000 19 Patna 1683200 330 511 220 450 Source: CPCB 2017, Solid Waste Generation in 46 Metro Cities of India 1124 SWARUP ET AL of India generates 450 tonnes of waste per day august 1952 by the Government of Bihar. Solid which is very less compared to other populous waste management is an overall responsibility and metro cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai duty of the PMC as per Bihar Municipal Act 2007 and Hyderabad. and Municipal Solid Waste Management and Handling Rules 2000. Status of Patna on State Level According to Urban Development Ministry of There is no such formal study conducted in the state Bihar Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC), to identify the quantity and quality of waste surrounds an area of 99.45sq kms, (Patna Master generated in different cities of the state. However, Plan, 2013). The city is divided into 72 wards which data on waste generation per capita per day is is grouped under these four circles- New Capital available from Central Pollution Control Board Circle (Western Zone), Kankarbagh Circle (Sothern (CPCB) and Urban Development and Housing Zone), Bankipur Circle (Central Zone) and Patna Department of Government of Bihar. City Circle (Eastern Zone) which accommodates From the analysis of Table 2 it can be summed up about 1.7 million (16, 83,200) population as per that on an average 0.4 kg/capita/day waste is Census 2011. This civic administrative body generated in Patna Municipal Corporation, 0.3 kg/ administers and well managed through four circles. capita/day by different Municipal Corporations and Each circle is administered by an executive officer 0.2 and 0.15 kg/capita/day by Municipal Councils who is deputed by the State Government of Bihar. and Nagar Panchayats respectively of Bihar. The The administrative functions of the municipalities share of per capita waste generation of Municipal are exercised through mayor-in-councils. It Solid Waste of Patna Municipal Corporation in the comprises of a Mayor, a Deputy Mayor and other state of Bihar is highest. elected members of the PMC. In PMC, Municipal Commissioner and Additional Municipal Patna Municipal Corporation: A Brief Background Commissioner, Sanitation Department is responsible Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) is the Urban for overall Solid Waste Management (SWM) of Local Body (ULB) as per 74th amendment of the Patna. Indian constitution and was established on 15th Table 2. Bihar: Waste Generation in different ULBs of Bihar TPD & TPA (Tonnes per Day and Tonnes Per Annum) Sl.