Animal carcass burnt on streets

Waste management raises a stink after Bakrid

While Metropolis talks about sustainable development

It is becoming a sort of ritual in the city, the Old City in particular. Every year, after the Bakrid festivities, animal carcass can be seen lying around on roads raising a foul stench. This year was no different though efforts were taken up by both religious institutions and the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) to vouch for a ‘clean’ Bakrid.

While religious scholars encouraged the citizens not to sacrifice animals on roads or streets and to dispose the viscera properly, the GHMC procured at least one lakh large bags for waste disposal for Bakrid as was seen at the time of Ganesh immersion. The bags were primarily handed over to residents of the south and central zones.

While the efforts evidently went down the drain, NGOs are crying foul over the ‘ritual’ of the GHMC on how the animal waste is being handled. The civic body burns the viscera of the animals at the location, which has invited the ire of the NGOs.

One October 4, a couple of days before Bakrid, SuWASTE, an offshoot of SOUL (Save Our Urban Lakes), sent a letter to the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) urging officials to carry out Segregation at Source (SAS) and for ensuring decentralised ward-wise management of waste in accordance with the Municipal Solid Waste, Management and Handling Rules (MSW M&H), 2000.

“The authorities in the State, however, responded that they would continue with the existing ‘system’, even if it meant going against the MSW M&H Rules, 2000,” said Dr Lubna Sarwath, member of SOUL.

The letter mentioned that the GHMC, instead of burning the carcass, could scientifically compost the waste and ensure that contracts are given accordingly. “Our representation submitted to the concerned authorities regarding mechanism of collection and composting of animal waste locally in each ward and our oral complaint to officials of the GHMC has gone in vain,” lamented Dr Lubna Sarwath.

She reiterated the rules to concerned authorities to comply with the MSW M&H Rules 2000 Schedule II(1)(1) (iii), (2), (5) and (6), and urged them to take the steps for a safe, productive and scientific disposal of animal waste generated during Bakrid. The NGO even offered to lend their hand to institutionalise the Solid Waste Management (SWM) in the city and state, thereby becoming a prototype for other cities to follow suit.

Should the city follow the Dhaka model?

In 2005, post Bakrid, the Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) in Bangladesh embarked on a massive clean-up drive which proved to be quite successful. Roads were sprayed with antiseptic water and the job was supervised round the clock for three days. The DCC engaged 10 water lorries in its zonal areas to clean the roads. For the first time the civic body used an antiseptic solution of Savlon and bleaching powder to kill germs. The solution was sprayed on the roads to prevent diseases as well as to avoid stink emanating from the carcass. Over 2,000 workers were hired apart to carry out the job apart from the existing staff of 7,000 of the DCC.

Recommendations by SOUL

• Segregation at source: Ensure that animal waste is collected or advised to be dumped at specific sites for composting /vermi-composting.
• Decentralised ward-wise SWM: Ward-wise dumping points at specific sites for effective administration of waste.

The above measures will effectively ensure that:

a) The roads/garbage bins do not overflow and raise a stink causing serious hygiene and health concerns.

b) Tonnes of biodegradable waste does not mix with other waste

c) Saves unnecessary transportation to landfill sites at Jawaharnagar; which is against the MSW rules

d) Results in organic fertiliser for agriculture purpose

e) Safe, quick and easy handling of waste for sanitary workers

f) Implementation of the above can be extended beyond the festival in compliance with the scientific disposal according to MSW (M&H), 2000 Rules.