Segregate garbage at source or pay fine, industries told

Manufacturing units and other industries may have to pay penalties if they don’t manage solid waste generated by them at source. 

 The government plans to introduce legislation that will mandate manufacturers to segregate waste at source, said Urban Development Minister S Suresh Kumar.

Kumar made the announcement on Tuesday, while addressing commissioners of city and town municipal councils from across Karnataka. He was speaking at a workshop organised by the Municipal Administration department on garbage disposal and management.

“Industrial waste, e-waste and hazardous waste being generated by firms should be managed immediately. The government will shortly convene a meeting of experts and put in place legislation for effective implementation of this,” he said.

Kumar said the Bangalore garbage menace had served as a wake-up call for city managers across the State. “All city corporations have failed in segregating and managing waste. The High Court order directing households to segregate waste at the household level has come as a reprieve. However, what happened in Bangalore should not repeat. Hopefully it is a lesson well learnt,” he said.

Kumar warned that citizens would lose patience if civic administrators continued to slack off in their duties.

 Sensitising citizens about waste management too should be taken up as a priority.
Noted environmentalist Yellappa Reddy said that it was imperative for city municipalities and pollution control boards to strictly enforce the Environment Protection Act, 1986.

Though a “silent revolution” had begun in urban local bodies, they failed in implementation as they lacked training, he said.