The Centre has directed the Pollution Control Board, Assam and the Commissioner of Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) to implement Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016.
This is in response to Guwahati’s increasing pollution levels.
In a Rajya Sabha reply to a question posed by Bhubaneswar Kalita of the Congress, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Dr Harsh Vardhan said that the Central government is aware of pollution levels in the city.
The city has been identified as a non-attainment city with respect to PM10, requiring proper air quality management.
The government has notified the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, for management of solid waste in India.
Directions have been issued to the Assam Pollution Control Board, under Section 18(1)(b) of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 regarding treatment and utilization of sewage. Directions have also been issued to the GMC Commissioner for implementation of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, and regarding treatment and utilization of sewage for restoration of river water quality, reports The Assam Tribune.
The Additional Chief Secretary, Environment and Forest, Government of Assam, has also been issued directions for setting up of facilities for treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous waste, Vardhan said.