more-in In a bid to ensure cleanliness in rural areas, Karnataka is set to introduce solid waste management, including door-to-door collection of garbage, in a few chosen villages on a pilot basis. “We are thinking of introducing solid waste management (SWM) in either a few big villages or clusters of villages or both on an experimental basis. Depending on the feedback, we will decide on extending it,” Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Krishna Byre Gowda told The Hindu. “In the absence of any SWM system, villagers generally dump garbage at dumping and manure pits. Earlier, the system would work well as almost all the things used by villagers were organic. But now several non-decomposable items, particularly plastic, have entered in a big way even in rural areas. These are coming in the way of maintaining rural cleanliness,” Mr. Byre Gowda observed. In the absence of SWM, littering along roads has become common in several villages, he said. This has necessitated segregation at source even in rural areas on the lines of that being done in urban areas for the effective implementation of SWM. While consultations are on with experts to choose an appropriate SWM model for rural areas, the broad idea is to set up facilities for waste processing, composting and recycling in big villages or clusters of villages. According to Mr. Byre Gowda, this would have a spin off benefit of generating jobs to locals, especially women self help groups who would be involved in the SWM process. In addition, quality compost would also be made available from composting centres for farming. Presently, the process of identifying big villages or clusters of villages for introducing SWM is on in consultation with CEOs of various zilla panchayats. The Minister is keen on launching the pilot before October 2 that marks Gandhi Jayanthi.

Stay updated with all the Bangalore Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.