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| Comprehensive revision of Waste Management Rules for solid waste, plastic waste, biomedical waste, hazardous waste and electronic waste, and notification of construction and demolition waste management Rules during March–April, 2016. These Rules emphasizes waste minimization, source segregation, resource recovery for recycling and reuse, extended producer responsibility, involvement of waste pickers and self help group, enhanced scope for waste reuse / recycle in different application like usage in road, waste to energy, waste to oil etc, stringent standards for pollutants from waste treatment and disposal facility, fine for littering of waste etc, so as to ensure environmentally sound management of waste and minimise adverse impact on the environment. The Government has taken a series of steps to address issues related to water pollution, air pollution, industrial pollution, improper waste disposal etc. The major steps being taken by the Government to control pollution inter alia include the following:- |
| i) | Notification of National Ambient Air Quality Standards; |
| ii) | Formulation of environmental regulations / statutes; |
| iii) | Setting up of monitoring network for assessment of ambient air quality; |
| iv) | Introduction of cleaner / alternate fuels like gaseous fuel (CNG, LPG etc.), ethanol blend etc.; |
| v) | Promotion of cleaner production processes; |
| vi) | Launching of National Air Quality index by the Prime Minister in April, 2015; |
| vii) | Implementation of Bharat Stage IV (BS-IV) norms in 63 selected cities and universalization of BS-IV by 2017; |
| viii) | Decision taken to leapfrog directly from BS-IV to BS-VI fuel standards by 1st April, 2020; |
| ix) | Taxing polluting vehicles and incentivizing hybrid and electric vehicles; |
| x) | Ban on burning of leaves, biomass, municipal solid waste; |
| xi) | Promotion of public transport network of metro, buses, e-rickshaws and promotion of car pooling, Pollution Under Control, lane discipline, vehicle maintenance; |
| xii) | Revision of existing environmental standards and formulation of new standards for prevention and control of pollution from industries; |
| xiii) | Regular co-ordination meetings at official and ministerial level with Delhi and other State Governments within the NCR; |
| xiv) | Issuance of directions under Section 5 of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and under Section 18(1)(b) of Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981; |
| xv) | Installation of on-line continuous (24x7) monitoring devices by major industries; |
| xvi) | Preparation of action plan for sewage management and restoration of water quality in aquatic resources by State Governments; |
| xvii) | Implementation of National River Conservation Plan for abatement of pollution in identified stretches of various rivers and undertaking conservation activities including education and awareness creation, community participation, electric/improved wood crematoria and river front development; |
| xviii) | Implementation of schemes for setting up of Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETP), promotion of waste minimization strategies, Capacity Building for Industrial Pollution Management, setting up of Treatment and Disposal Facilities for hazardous and biomedical waste, setting up of Sewage Treatment Plants etc. |
| xix) | Re-categorisation of industries based on the pollution potential.
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(b) |
| The revised waste management Rules prescribe definite roles for stakeholders more explicitly including the roles for waste generators, local bodies, State Government, State Pollution Control Boards, Central Ministries and Centre Pollution Control Board. To supplement financial resources for implementation of these waste management Rules, the local bodies have been empowered to levy user charges for the services rendered and spot fine for the defaulters. All manufacturers and brand owners have been made responsible for collection and channelization of waste through Extended Producers Responsibility and provisioning for necessary financial assistance to local bodies. Further, the shopkeepers and street vendors willing to provide plastic carry bags for dispensing any commodity are required to register with local body on payment of plastic waste management fee. The industrial projects have to meet the expenditure for the installation of Sewage Treatment Plants and Effluent Treatment Plants. These rules were sent to the concerned Central Ministries and all the State Governments for effective implementation. This information was given by Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Anil Madhav Dave, in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
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