Surat Speaks - Dr Ami Yagnik emphazises on public participation.....

“I am personally concerned about lack of active participation of Citizens for environmental issues.”  Says Dr. Ami Yagnik as she expresses her views on environmental issues of our city.

Dr. Ami Yagnik, a medical doctor with MS degree by profession, is not only involved in social programmes for helping needy as a doctor, but she has been working with a zeal, for environmental causes and social issues as well. I have seen her and her group of like-minded people, working and helping citizens clean their institutions after the natural calamities like flood like a common citizen. A medical doctor, with keen interest in solving social and environmental problems, is a rare combination.

Her concern for environment and its conservation is something that makes her stand apart among many. As one of the senior member of women wing of prestigious SGCCI she has been working untiringly for the conservation of environment. She is actively working with SMC – Surat Municipal Corporation on solving the issues of solid waste management by creating awareness in the people.

"I am personally concerned about Public awareness and participation to prevent further degradation of environment by selecting sustainable options for celebration of festivals like use of eco-friendly materials, curtailing noise pollution by limiting use of mikes etc.  If everyone starts thinking about preserving and nurturing environment in whatever way possible in our day to day life, only then there is some hope for us."

She further states that Solid waste management by waste segregation at source and following principles of reduce, reuse and recycle is the need of an hour.

“Massive campaign for public participation is required.” She stresses with great concern.

The issue of lack of public participation, as raised by Dr Ami, is undeniably one of the root causes of the environmental issues troubling our Surat. It has been well recognized by even World Bank, that most of the vital issues, can be solved in no time, if there is active participation from people.

“People must take ownership of their own city and what is happening within. Unless we all together decide to change our city for better as far as its environment is concerned and work hard to make it happen, it will remain just a fancy talk.”

Could not agree more with Dr Ami Yagnik….!

Himanshu Padhya

Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016........Making the things right....!

I remember reading somewhere, two years back, about a summit of mayors of 151 cities of world, to address and discuss the most important issues of their cities. And it was concluded, that the second most important issue of the cities, urban areas around the world, is 'Solid Waste'.  The first, being unemployment.

This is alarming...! The fact, that the issue of environmental protection and conservation, makes it to top three alarming issues, is a great challenge to environmental engineers and planners around the world, who are continuously trying to make the lives of urban dwellers better.

India took a major step in addressing this issue in right way, when Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Prakash Javadekar, on 05-April-2016 announced 'Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016'. The word file of the his press address, containing the vitals of new rules is below. 

http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=138591

It is important to note that these rules, are revised after sixteen years. The most important and noteworthy point in these rules, is, that the importance of 'segregation', or source segregation is recognised and has been made mandatory.

As per the rules, now the segregation at source is not only mandatory, but the same is responsibility of generators. Every household, is now required to segregate their solid waste in three bins, with different colours. These are Green, White and Black. These are fixed colours and one cannot change it.

The types of waste, and colour to be used for the same is as under….

Colour	Solid Waste Type
Green	Kitchen waste Restaurant Waste Fruits Graden Waste
White	Plastic Waste Metal Waste Paper Waste Non hazardous electronic items
Black	CFL tubes Expired medicines Broken mercury products Used batteries Medical injections Used tins of pesticides etc.

For detailed information on colours and other vital information on rules, refer the pdf shared below. in English and simple Gujarati language as well.Please note that the pdf is based on information available of government website and other official sources.

The local authorities, SMC in case of Surat, are given time of one year in the rules. So, by April 2017, it is mandatory for all of us, to have these three bins outside our houses and begin source segregation of out household waste.

SMC has already initiated many programmes and schemes for the citizens, of which the details, I will keep on sharing as it becomes available to me.

Himanshu Padhya