[ad_1]
Acknowledging that Patna has a waste management problem, and that the Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated the problem, two academics have conducted a study and released a book that not only sounds the alarm but also offers suggestions for the capital of Bihar.
Papia Raj and Aditya Raj, both Associate Professor at IIT Patna and co-authors Ignoring India Studies: The Patna CaseMedical waste and plastic waste are major problems in the city, he says.
“We were dismayed that only the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences had an incinerator for burning medical waste (in Patna). Although the hospital provides this service to other hospitals for a fee, it is rarely used by any government or private hospital. It is a common understanding that household waste is the main problem, but medical and plastic waste is a much greater threat,” Indian Express.
According to them, although the Covid-19 pandemic initially brought about behavioral changes among people with regard to sanitation, it has recently been observed that these changes are being reversed. They said the medical waste generated during the pandemic has also caused major problems.
“The Covid pandemic has further complicated the problem in Patna and is creating a situation akin to a parallel pandemic,” they wrote, referring to unburned medical waste being dumped openly near human dwellings.
The Covid pandemic requires renewed efforts to understand its elimination. They added that while we continued to fight the pandemic, we kept creating a lot of waste.”
The authors, Papia Raj and Aditya Raj, who are also married to each other, focused their study on an urban area covering a population of 25,000. The city generates about 1,200 tons of waste per day.
When looking for a solution to the city’s litter problem, the authors said it was important to learn from the hygiene campaign conducted during the four-day Chhath festival in October and November.
“Chhath puja conveys a completely different scenario in Patna. The streets are neat and clean. Waste is produced or disposed of with great care. During the preparation for this festival, which is celebrated six days after Diwali, it is evident that the behavior pattern and attitude of residents, governance and other stakeholders have completely changed. People seem to care about their area.”
They said such a change in attitude has the potential to alter people’s behavior patterns and can have a positive impact on proper waste disposal not only in Patna, but in other places that may also suffer from similar problems. They also suggested programs supported by communities and local authorities to raise awareness about waste disposal.
“We feel modern in critiquing our traditions. Even those traditional practices that made us live in harmony with Mother Nature, and value our people and our products. Earlier, the community of practice meant the universe to its members. We have opened up and the whole world is witnessing that it is our home. While we proudly claim that we live in the global village, we don’t know our neighbors. We don’t bother to find out either. And we don’t worry about our own. We get rid of what we don’t need, at will, without care or concern. Our practices are starting to bite us. We need to change. We need respect until we are ignored,” they wrote.
The authors also suggested that the government should encourage ventures into neglected businesses. “In Bihar, we don’t have businesses that deal with discards. Everything that is collected, starting from door-to-door collection, is processed and sent to places like Gujarat for recycling,” they said.
The IIT study said that since there are not many industries in Patna, a large portion of waste is generated from homes, hotels, resorts, restaurants and other businesses.
“Separating waste is not the only solution, but dealing with waste at its source can provide a solution. Ongoing Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is one way to deal with it, but our long-term solution is community involvement,” said Papia Raj and Aditya Raj.
[ad_2]
