One-Day Conclave on Waste Management to be Held in Patna on August 1

Chirag Gupta

Patna: Nitin Nabin, Minister of Urban Development and Housing, addressed a press conference at Vikas Bhawan in Patna on Wednesday, announcing a significant conclave on waste management to be held on August 1 at Maurya Hotel in Patna. This event aims to showcase best practices and develop a roadmap for waste management.

The conclave will feature the Director of Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban), Binay Kumar Jha, experts from IIT Roorkee, mayors and municipal commissioners from 19 municipal corporations, officials from the Urban Development Departments of eight states, and representatives from 24 companies. These participants will present their exemplary work in waste management, sharing insights and innovations.

Under Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0, the event will discuss schemes related to solid waste management, used water management, toilet construction, Information, Education and Communication (IEC), and capacity building in urban areas. The integrated solid waste management method being adopted will involve dividing municipal bodies into clusters, with a processing plant established by identifying one municipal body as the ‘Lead ULB.’

States and companies excelling in waste management have been invited to share their modern methods and experiences. For integrated solid waste management using modern technology, the scheme is proposed to start in Patna and 11 other municipal bodies on a public-private partnership basis. The municipal bodies will handle collection and transportation, while processing and disposal will be managed by the concerned company.

A proposal for financial assistance under the VGF Scheme has been sent to the Government of India, awaiting approval from the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. The conclave aims to develop roadmaps and future plans for better waste management in urban areas, drawing from the best practices of various states and national and international companies.