4 Current Status of Environment in India (Waste Management and Energy) -II
Gajendra Singh Vishwakarma
1. Waste Generation and Management in India
1.1. Waste Generation
1.2. Classification of Waste
1.3. Waste Management and Policies
1.4. Waste Disposal System in India
1.5. Biomedical Waste Management in India
1.6. Initiatives by Government of India in Waste Management
2. Status of Energy resources in India
2.1. Coal
2.2. Petroleum and Natural gas
2.3. Renewable energy sources
3. Other Major Environmental Issue
3.1. Wasteland in India
3.2. Use of Pesticide
3.3. Climate Change
1. Waste Generation and Management in India
1.1. Waste Generation
India is basically an agricultural-based nation but now converting into the industrial and services-oriented country. Due to shifting of population from rural area to urban area, the population of urban area is increasing day by day. As per the 2011 census the 377 million people are living in 7,935 towns/cities. The three mega cities—Greater Mumbai, Delhi, and Kolkata—having population of more than 10 million, 53 cities have more than 1 million population, and 415 cities having population 100,000 or more. The cities loaded with the population and lots of industrial activities are mainly responsible for the generation of huge amount of municipal solid waste. As per the report of Comptroller and Auditor General’s (CAG), the waste generation by the urban India in 2009 was approx. 48 million tonnes. Further during same year, the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) estimated that about 58 million tonnes of waste was generated per year. After that in 2012, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported that about 47 million tonnes of waste generation in Urban India in the 2011–12. The 2014 report of the Planning Commission Committee found that 62 million tonnes of municipal solid waste was produced in 2014. According to a latest CPCB report, in 2016, India produced some 52 million tonnes of waste each year.
These, data of generation of solid waste is calculated by multiplying the urban population by the amount of waste generated per capita per day. This makes estimates of solid waste generated in the country. Different agencies collected the data on the per capita waste generation. An assessment carried out on the amount of per capita waste generation from 2008 to 2014 says that per capita waste generation is increasing by about 1.3 per cent annually.
The data on state wise waste production suggested that the waste generation rate depends on factors such as population density, economic status, and level of commercial activity, culture and city/region. The CPCB 2014 report provides data on MSW generation in different states, indicating that the Maharashtra (115 364–19 204 Tonnes per Day (TPD)), Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal (11 523–15 363 TPD), Andhra Pradesh, Kerala (7683– 11 522 TPD) are top state in waste generation followed by the Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Karnataka and Mizoram (3842–7662 TPD). Lower waste generation occurs in Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Goa, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Tripura, Nagaland and Manipur (less than 3841 TPD). Source: Down to Earth (May, 2016) http://cdn.downtoearth.org.in/library/0.89650700_1463994246_sample-pages.pdf Date of access 04/02/2018
The cities like New Delhi, Greater Mumbai and Chennai are the biggest waste generators in the country, producing 5,922 TPD, 5,320 TPD and 3,036 TPD respectively (as per 2009 report CPCB). In 2011, CPCB again revealed that metro cities, economic hubs of the country, are the biggest waste generators—Delhi: 6,800 TPD, Mumbai: 6,500 TPD, Chennai: 4,500 TPD, Hyderabad: 4,200 TPD, and Kolkata: 3,670 TPD. Source: Down to Earth (May, 2016) (http://cdn.downtoearth.org.in/library/0.89650700_1463994246_sample-pages.pdf Date of access 04/02/2018)
1.2. Classification of Waste
Following major categories of waste are generally found in MSW of India:
Biodegradable Waste: Food and kitchen waste, green waste (vegetables, flowers, leaves, fruits) and paper.
Recyclable Material: Paper, glass, bottles, cans, metals, certain plastics, etc. • Inert Waste Matter: C&D, dirt, debris.
Composite waste: Waste clothing, Tetra packs, waste plastics such as toys.
Domestic Hazardous: Waste (also called “household hazardous waste”) and
Toxic waste: Waste medicine, e-waste, paints, chemicals, light bulbs, fluorescent tubes, spray cans, fertilizer and pesticide containers, batteries, and shoe polish.
MSW in India has approximate 40–60% compostable, 30–50% inert waste and 10% to 30% recyclable. Analysis carried out by NEERI reveals that in totality Indian waste consists of Nitrogen content (0.64 ± 0.8) %, Phosphorus (0.67 ± 0.15)%, Potassium (0.68 ± 0.15)%, and C/N ration (26 ± 5) %. Joshi & Ahmed, Cogent Environmental Science (2016), 2: 1139434 http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/23311843.2016.1139434)
1.3. Waste Management and Policies
In India as per the CPCB reports 2013, no city can claim 100% segregation of waste. In the cities, on an average only 70% waste is collected, and the remaining 30% is lost in the urban environment. Further out of total waste collected, only 12.45% waste is scientifically processed and rest is disposed in open dumps.
The status of Waste Management Practices carried out in India is as follow.
1.4. Waste Disposal System in India
In India the current strategies for the waste disposal are open dumping, Landfilling, Landfill gas-to-energy plants, Biological treatment of organic waste (Composting). The status of these systems is given in the table.
(Source: Joshi & Ahmed, Cogent Environmental Science (2016), 2: 1139434 http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/23311843.2016.1139434)
1.5. Biomedical Waste Management in India
In India, though there are a number of different disposal methods, the situation is unfocussed and most are harmful rather than helpful. Most medical facilities fail to follow the regulations. It is often found that biomedical waste is dumped into the ocean, where it eventually washes up on shore, or in landfills due to improper sorting or negligence. Therefore Bio-medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998 and further amendments were passed for the regulation of bio-medical waste management. On 28th Mar 2016, Biomedical Waste Management Rules 2016 were notified by Central Govt. Each state’s Pollution Control Board or Pollution control Committee will be responsible for implementing the new legislation.
The latest guidelines for segregation of bio-medical waste recommend the following color coding
Red Bag – Syringes (without needles), soiled gloves, catheters, IV tubes etc should be all disposed of in a red colored bag, which will later be incinerated.
Yellow Bag – All dressings, bandages and cotton swabs with body fluids, blood bags, human anatomical waste and body parts are to be discarded in yellow bags.
Cardboard box with blue marking – Glass vials, ampules and other glass ware is to be discarded in a cardboard box with a blue marking/sticker.
White Puncture Proof Container (PPC) – Needles, sharps, blades are disposed of in a white translucent puncture proof container.
Black Bags – These are to be used for non-bio-medical waste. In a hospital setup, this includes stationary, vegetable and fruit peels, leftovers, packaging including that from medicines, disposable caps, disposable masks, disposable shoe-covers, disposable tea cups, cartons, sweeping dust, kitchen waste etc.
1.6. Initiatives by Government of India in Waste Management
- Bio-medical Waste Handling Rules, 1998 – Notified
- Municipal Solid Waste Management Rules, 2000 – Notified.
- Reforms Agenda (Fiscal, Institutional, Legal)
- Technical Manual on Municipal Solid Waste Management
- Technology Advisory Group on Municipal Solid Waste Management
- Inter-Ministerial Task Force on Integrated Plant Nutrient Management from city compost.
- Tax Free Bonds by ULBs permitted by Government of India
- Income Tax relief to Waste Management agencies
- Public-Private Partnership in SWM
- Capacity Building
- Urban Reforms Incentive Fund
- Guidelines for PSP and setting up of Regulatory Authority
- Introduction of Commercial Accounting System in ULBs & other Sector Reforms
- Model Municipal Bye-Laws framed / circulated for benefit of ULBs for adoption
- Financial Assistance by Government of India – 12th Finance Commission Grants
2. Status of Energy resources in India
In recent years, India’s energy consumption has been increasing at a relatively fast rate due to population growth and economic development. Rapid urbanization and improving standards of living for millions of Indian households, the demand is likely to grow significantly. As per the report of Statistical Review of World Energy June 2017 India is the third biggest country after China and USA in energy consumption with 5.5% global share in 2016. (Source: Energy Statistics, 2017, Central Statistics Office Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation Government of India)
2.1. Coal
The total availability of raw coal in India in 2015-16 stood at 843.27 MTs and that of lignite at 45.47 MTs . The availability of coal in the year 2015-16 increased by 1.60% compared to 2014- 15. The availability of lignite decreased by 8.27% during the same period.
Coal deposits are mainly confined to eastern and south central parts of the country. The states of Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana and Maharashtra account for 98.58 % of the total coal reserves in the country. The State of Jharkhand had the maximum share (26.29%) in the overall reserves of coal in the country as on 31st March 2016 followed by the State of Odisha (24.58%).(Source: Energy Statistics, 2017, Central Statistics Office Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation Government of India)
2.2. Petroleum and Natural gas
The estimated reserves of crude oil in India as on 31.03.2016 stood at 621.10 million tonnes (MT).Geographical distribution of Crude oil indicates that the maximum reserves are in the Western Offshore (39.79%) followed by Assam (25.89%), whereas the maximum reserves of Natural Gas are in the Eastern Offshore (36.79%) followed by Western offshore (23.95%).
The estimated reserves of Natural Gas in India as on 31.03.2016 stood at 1227.23 Billion Cubic Meters (BCM) as against 1251.90 BCM as on 31.03.2015.(Source: Energy Statistics, 2017, Central Statistics Office Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation Government of India)
2.3. Renewable energy sources
There is high potential for generation of renewable energy from various sources wind, solar, biomass, small hydro and cogeneration bagasse.
The total potential for renewable power generation in the country as on 31.03.16 is estimated at 1198856 MW This includes wind power potential of 102788 MW (8.57%) at 80m hub height, wind power potential of 302235 MW (25.21%) at 100 m hub height, SHP (small-hydro power) potential of 19749 MW (1.65%), Biomass power of 17,538 MW (1.46%), 5000 MW (0.42%) from bagasse based cogeneration in sugar mills, 2556 MW (0.21%) from waste to energy and solar power potential of 748990 MW (62.48%).(Source: Energy Statistics, 2017, Central Statistics Office Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation Government of India)
3. Other Major Environmental Issue
3.1. Wasteland in India
Of the national land area of 3,166 lakh hectares, 15% is categorized as wasteland. Rajasthan tops the chart with 25% of its geographical area being wasteland, accounting for 18% of the wasteland nationally. Delhi stands at the bottom of the pile with not an inch of wasteland. Among the top leading states Maharashtra, MP, Rajasthan, J&K, Andhra, Himachal have significant percentage of wasteland that can be exploited for development purposes.
3.2 Use of Pesticide
There are 234 pesticides registered in India. Out of these, 4 are WHO Class I pesticides, 15 are WHO Class I pesticides and 76 are WHO Class II pesticides, together constituting 40% of the registered pesticides in India. In terms of consumption too, the greatest volumes consumed are of these poisons. India 76% of the pesticide used is insecticide, as against 44% globally. The use of herbicides and fungicides is comparatively less. The main use of pesticides in India is for cotton crops (45%), followed by paddy and wheat. The states like Punjab, UP and Haryana are on tops in the use of pesticides.
To minimize the harmful effect associated with the chemical pesticides, in India several states adopted the Organic farming. It is basically a process of farming practiced free of chemical pesticide and thus creates a harmonic balance. Now, in order to decide the organic status of any state, the basic procedure is the calculation of the land in which organic farming is practiced.
Recently, a list was provided by the Indian Ministry of Agriculture regarding the status of organic farming. It was found that organic production in the country is about 1.24 million tons while the area under which the organic farming is practiced is about 0.723 million hectare under certification. In India, Organic farming is done various states of which Sikkim and Mizoram constitutes the largest part.
3.3. Climate Change
India has ranked 14th out of 56 nations and European Union on Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2018 released by environmental organization German watch. This marks an improvement from its 20th rank in CCPI 2017.Improvement in India’s rank in CCPI 2018 indicates that Indian Government is putting efforts for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by opting to transform its electricity sector towards green technology. (Source: https://www.climate-change-performance-index.org Date of access 05/02/2018)
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