New Delhi, May 27: In an attempt to assist urban local bodies in dealing with urban solid waste, the government is planning to launch a new mission mode state sector programme for which the Planning Commission has proposed an additional allocation of Rs 2000 crore during the tenth plan. The fund would be disbursed as special central assistance to urban local bodies for the success of the 'Urban Sanitation Mission', official sources said today.

They said guidelines for the mission were under preparation in consultation with the Planning Commission and the concerned Union ministry or departments. The country generates about two million tonnes of urban solid waste annually and the daily per capita municipal solid waste is estimated at 400 gms.

Due to twin factors of growing urban population as also increasing per capita waste generation, the yearly increase in the overall quantity of solid waste in the cities is about five per cent, putting the urban waste management under severe stress.

Bureau Report