Bilaspur civil body & dist panchayat ink novel waste management pact

Raipur: In a first, the Bilaspur district panchayat entered into an agreement with the Bilaspur municipal corporation for the management of faecal sludge waste and plastic waste in the district's rural areas. This collaboration aims to facilitate both the bodies in their operations while saving time and money. Under this arrangement, the urban and rural bodies will share resources and assist each other in maintaining cleanliness throughout the district.The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by municipal corporation commissioner Amit Kumar and district panchayat CEO Ram Prasad Chauhan in the presence of collector Awanish Kumar Sharan. The agreement pertains to the utilisation of the Faecal Sludge Waste Management Unit and Plastic Waste Management Unit in Gram Panchayats under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Rural). As per the terms, the faecal sludge from 7,155 toilets with septic tanks in 171 villages of the Masturi development block will be transported to the plant using the corporation's disposal vehicles. The fee for emptying the septic tanks will be determined based on distance and will be borne by the respective toilet users and Gram Panchayats in accordance with the established rules, the commissioner explained.The agreement allows for the disposal of septic tank sludge from urban areas, subject to the unit's capacity. The CEO mentioned that plastic waste management units have been established in rural areas of various Gram Panchayats, including those in Janpad Panchayat Bilha, Akaltari Janpad Panchayat, Beltukri of Masturi, Gram Panchayat Amaali of Janpad Panchayat Kota, and Gram Panchayat Bharni of Takhatpur. These units can be utilised as needed for disposal of plastic waste from urban areas. The contract can be terminated by either party with a six-month advance notice.The district panchayat CEO emphasised to TOI that the primary goal of this pioneering agreement is to enable mutual assistance between the urban and rural bodies. "The absence of a desludging vehicle was a challenge for us, and this agreement will provide a solution. The municipal corporation will supply us with the necessary vehicle for transporting and disposing of the sludge. Likewise, our Plastic Waste Management Unit will assist the urban body in disposing of plastic waste," the CEO said on the agreement.