Dear All It was decided in the national convention that waste management of bio-degradable waste should be taken up as a nation wide activity. Although we have chosen Mumbai as a starting point, we can start the same project in other cities also. depending upon availability of volunteers. I am glad that from Delhi, already col. Dharma has volunteered. I welcome him to be a part of this activity and request other members from Delhi to come forward.
As a followup, we had a meeting in Mumbai on 19th July. The highlights of the discussion are given bellow. Akalpita There was a brain storming on the issue of the waste management and probable steps that BHUMI and other NGOs could or should take to move the government authorities to avoid the ill effects on the environment and public health. Various programs were suggested and discussed, and action plan was drawn to implement them. The outcome of the discussion was: 1. Use of RTI to get the authentic input from the municipal corporations / Municipalities on the amount of waste collected, its wet component, current process of disposal, future plans, and the amount of money spent at present on collection and disposal of the waste in Mumbai. The information will be useful for projecting before the people to talk on the urgency of initiating available technology for waste disposal. The management of Waste, especially the wet and biodegradable waste is an important issue in all big cities. The collection of this waste and its proper treatment should be taken on priority basis for clean environment and good health of the society. 2. Catch them young. Lectures, seminars and discussions in schools and colleges will create awareness among the youngsters and its propagation in the society at large we are sure if not all some will talk it out at home and in groups. Local Municipal Corporators, MLAs, MPs, government officials should be invited for such programs. The lectures will include the technology developed in BARC to digest the waste. Dr Kale agreed to provide necessary input on the technology, the "Nisargarun" and its effective utilization. Although the main idea is `waste treatment', high quality bio fertilizer for agriculture and generation of methane gas for energy are the byproducts of the process and can be used to a limited extent. This technology is sustainable compared to decentralized methodologies developed and used on a smaller scale at many places. 3. Use electronic media to pass the message of the urgency of the program on a National basis. The e-mails and posting messages on various groups was accepted. 4. A program is planned on 15th August, the Independence Day. The proposal is to have (1) collaboration with school in their flag hoisting program. Give small lecture on the Waste management, the concept and utilization of bio gas plant developed in BARC and joining hands with students to clean the area around the school and tree plantation in available space gardens around. This is to spread the message with action for "Clean Mumbai, Sundar Mumbai" 5. Organize Prabhat ferries on August 15. 6. Visits of students, teachers, parents to "Nisargarun" bio gas plants
