UPSC Prelims 2019 Question:

which one of the following statements is correct?

As per the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 in India,

Explanation:

• In exercise of the powers conferred by the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and Municipal Solid Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2000, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change formulated the rules for Solid Waste Management in 2016. A waste processing facility will have to be set up by all local bodies having a population of 1 million or more within two years. Waste generators have been introduced to segregate waste in to three streams, Wet (Biodegradable), Dry (Plastic, Paper, metal, wood, etc.) and domestic hazardous wastes (diapers, napkins, empty containers of cleaning agents, mosquito repellents, etc.)
  
  
• These rules provided criteria for the identification and procurement of sites to set up:

1. Waste processing facilities for all local bodies having a population of 1 million or more within two years.
2. Common or stand-alone sanitary landfills for all local authorities and towns with a population below 1 million or for all local bodies having a population of 0.5 million or more, will have to be completed within three years period.
3. Common or regional sanitary landfills for all suitable clusters of local authorities and census towns with a population under 0.5 million, will have to be completed within three years period.

Relevance: The Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) recently notified the new Solid Waste Management Rules (SWM), 2016. These will replace the Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 2000.

Therefore, option (3) is the correct answer.

Subject: Environment | Pollution