Hyderabad issues new sanitation guidelines
HYDERABAD: The government has issued fresh guidelines to improve sanitation following the division of three municipal corporations. It has framed standard operating procedures to streamline the functioning of Swachh autos and strengthen waste management.
To ensure the urban poor are not burdened, the government decided not to collect user charges from houses in slums with a built-up area of less than 500 sq ft. It is considering merging garbage collection charges with property tax.
100% door-to-door collection mandated
The guidelines mandate 100% door-to-door waste collection in every ward and adherence to fixed timings. Waste must be weighed at transfer stations.
All garbage collection autos must be equipped with a GPS tracking system. New vehicles introduced for waste collection must be electric, while existing ones must be retrofitted.
Dumpers must be placed for up to one year in Garbage Vulnerable Points and hotspots. Waste lifting operations in these areas will be handled by Ranky, the agency managing solid waste in the city. Women from self-help groups will create awareness to prevent dumping, and they will be given incentives.
Home composting in houses and gated communities will be encouraged. Incentives will also be provided for segregating wet and dry waste at source.
Ranky to handle bulk waste transport
In newly merged areas and places where door-to-door collection is irregular, vehicles will be arranged through Ranky. Bulk waste transportation will also be undertaken by the agency.
Incentives will be given to Swachh auto workers who perform well, while penalties will be imposed on those who fail to meet standards. The government also issued guidelines for handling construction and demolition waste.
Special Officer Jayesh Ranjan directed officials to prepare an action plan within two weeks to implement the guidelines.
