Rules for waste management framed by govt, public suggestion invited

New Delhi: The government has framed rules for waste management and has put them on the Environment Ministry's website to invite public suggestions before giving it a final shape, Union Environment Prakash Javadekar said Tuesday.

Rules regarding management of solid, plastic, bio-medical and e-waste have been put on the government's portal and people's suggestions are invited for 50 days.

"The waste management rules have been framed. E-waste, solid, biomedical, plastic waste rules are put on website for public consultation. All suggestions are welcome. We will finalise them after two months," the minister said.

50 days deadline has been fixed for suggestions after which a final policy will be framed by the government. The minister said that hazardous waste management rules have already been finalised.

"The hazardous waste management rules are renewed. They are published now and are final," the minister said while concluding the two-day conference of state environment ministers.

Speaking on waste management, the minister said the states have been asked to ensure its industrial area plans mandatorily have the waste recycling units. The states will enforce effective plastic and e-waste management by extending the responsibility to its producers.

They will also have to make treatment of sewage and granting consents to municipal authorities mandatory under Water (Prevention and Control Pollution) Act, 1974.

Asked about the discussions about recommendations given by the TSR Subramanian committee, Javadekar said that his ministry is taking all inputs and will present a comprehensive law which might take a "little" more time.

"TSR Subramanian committee is one input. Many states have given suggestions which is another input. People interested in environment is third input. We are considering all inputs.

"We will present a comprehensive law which might take a little time. We will come out with CAMPA Act to give justice to states and we are proposing stringent actions against polluters. When the proposal comes and it comes into the Cabinet we will tell you," Javadekar said.

Government had constituted a high-level committee headed by TSR Subramanian to review various environment laws in order to bring them in line with "current requirements".

The committee has already submitted its recommendations, a key of which is to review environment laws.

The Environment and Forest ministers during the two-day conference also discussed in detail about the committee recommendations on the six green laws.

The six laws that govern environment, forest and wildlife related issues are Environment (Protection) Act, Forest (Conservation) Act, Wildlife (Protection) Act, Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act and Indian Forest Act.