Separate Sanitary Waste Collection System Planned Under Smart City

An independent system for the collection and management of sanitary waste will be introduced in Belagavi under the Smart City-2 programme. This was announced by Kavitha Warangal, Managing Director of Belagavi Smart City Ltd, while presenting details of an ambitious solid waste management proposal prepared under the scheme, reports the Sakal Daily. At a review meeting, officials explained the background of the Smart City-2 proposal, its funding structure, and the future action plan. Belagavi is the only city from Karnataka selected for this scheme. Under the project, the Central Government is expected to provide ₹135 crore, while 20% of the total cost will be contributed by the city corporation or the state government. This contribution will be released in three annual phases. A resolution approving the project has already been passed by the City Corporation. In the first phase, ₹25 crore has been approved, of which ₹7.5 crore has already been released. The entire solid waste management project is targeted for completion by 2028. Officials expressed confidence that Belagavi could emerge as a model city in cleanliness, environmental protection, and use of modern technology, provided funds are released on time and the city’s financial contribution is made as scheduled. For the next phase, a contribution of ₹18.75 crore from the City Corporation or the government will be required. It was also clarified that ₹37 crore will need to be repaid after the successful implementation of the scheme. A team from Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) inspected the city and submitted a detailed report on the current cleanliness and waste management practices. The proposal is based on the city’s present population of 6.56 lakh, with projections estimating that daily waste generation could reach around 371 tonnes in the future. Questions were raised during the meeting regarding some projections due to lack of supporting evidence. According to the report, only about 90% of waste is currently being segregated. The RFID system used in the garbage collection vehicles is not fully effective, mixed waste is often not accepted, and there is a lack of local transport stations. Garbage is being stored and sorted in open spaces, road cleanliness standards are inadequate, and the safety of sanitation workers has been neglected. Dry waste management was earlier found to be unsatisfactory, though officials stated that improvements have been made. The report also pointed out the absence of a dedicated system for construction and demolition waste. Proposed Measures Under the Scheme Include: Segregation of waste into dry, wet, and sanitary categories Separate vehicles for dry waste and daily waste collection Construction of four waste transport stations Eight-day dry waste storage system Recycling of waste into cement and supply to factories Separate system for construction and demolition waste Implementation of a Green Protocol through a dedicated app Establishment of RRR (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) Centres Plastic ban on the lines of the Tirupati model Incentives for good performance and penalties for violations Training programmes for sanitation workers Setting up of Primary Collection Centres Purchase of 40 auto tippers, robotic sweeping machines, and tree-cutting machines Separate system for horticulture waste Development of transport stations and capsule vehicles at a cost of ₹14 crore Installation of weighing bridges, CCTV cameras, and geo-tagging of vehicles Officials said these measures aim to create a comprehensive, modern, and sustainable waste management system for Belagavi under the Smart City-2 initiative.