Polluters must pay, policy must be followed, says Official

There is a need to address the problems related to waste management at the source level rather that at the end point, a senior Union Government official stressed on Monday.

The policy on the plastic ban should be first effectively implemented in the plastic manufacturing industry and mere organising of seminars will not solve the problem, the official observed.

Union Government Secretary and Atomic energy, space, earth Commissions Member (finance) V V Bhat made these observations while delivering the key-note address at the two-day national seminar on “Waste management and alternate sources,” at St Aloysius College. India has failed in waste management basically due to ineffective implementation of policies at the source level, he said.

On the failure of individuals and civic bodies in multiple handling of garbage, he said municipal bodies should come out with a common policy to provide free land for the waste management projects. Apart from strictly imposing the internationally accepted “polluters must pay” rule, civic bodies should boost the morale of all stake holders involved in waste management by providing incentives.