Port Blair, Feb 11: A team of officials from the Directorate of RD, PRIs and ULBs, Andaman and Nicobar Administration along with the Gram Panchayat Officials conducted an inspection drive in all market places and commercial establishments in Wandoor Gram Panchayat area to implement Rural Areas Solid Waste Management and Handling Bye Laws, 2019.

During the drive, the shopkeepers were sensitized on the initiatives being taken up by the Department for effective management of Solid waste in these Islands. Fines were imposed on the defaulters in accordance with the Bye Laws as applicable to each establishment.

With an aim to make the villages in the Islands ODF Plus - the Directorate of RD, PRIs and ULBs, Andaman and Nicobar Administration is setting up 26 Solid Waste Management (SWM) Clusters across the Islands covering all the 70 Gram Panchayats. It is to mention that 17 out of the 26 SWM Clusters have been completed in full shape and made functional.

The Solid Waste Management Centre set up under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) is a one-stop point for scientific management and disposal of Organic and In-Organic solid waste. The organic waste such as kitchen waste, garden waste etc. collected from Rural Households and Commercial establishments shall be converted to organic manure by composting. The in-organic waste such as Plastic, Metal, Glass etc. shall be segregated in the SWM centre. The non-recyclable waste shall be shredded into granules using Shredding Machine which shall be used for road construction. Provision has also been made to dispose-off hazardous waste such as Sanitary Napkins etc. by using Incinerators.

All the Shopkeepers in the rural areas are hereby appealed to pay the User-Fees as per the Bye Laws so as to avoid legal actions against the defaulting establishments. It is also requested to handover the segregated waste to the sanitary personnel.