**Executive Summary:**
This document is a response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4687 regarding the status of the Solid Waste Processing Plant in Chandigarh. It outlines the roles of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), States/UTs, and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in sanitation and solid waste management, referencing the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBMU and SBMU 2.0). It details Chandigarh's progress and funding under SBMU 2.0.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Roles and Responsibilities:**
* Sanitation is a State subject; ULBs are responsible for planning, designing, executing, and operating sanitation projects.
* MoHUA supplements State/UT efforts through policy direction, financial and technical support, and guidelines.
* **Swachh Bharat Mission (SBMU):**
* SBMU launched on October 2, 2014, to achieve Open Defecation Free (ODF) cities and scientific processing of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW).
* SBMU 2.0 launched on October 1, 2021, for five years, aiming for Garbage Free Status for all cities.
* Funding is released to States/UTs based on approved action plans.
* **Chandigarh's Status and Progress:**
* Reports 100% door-to-door collection and source segregation in all 35 wards.
* Reports processing 100% of the 490 tons per day (TPD) of waste generated.
* Allocated ₹28.50 crores under SWM component of SBMU 2.0.
* Action plans with central share of ₹28.50 crores approved, and ₹21.27 crores released.
**Impact Analysis**
* **States/Union Territories (UTs):**
* *Impact:* Responsible for planning, designing, executing, and operating sanitation projects in urban areas, including solid waste management. Receive financial and technical support from MoHUA.
* *Action Required:* Develop and implement action plans for sanitation and solid waste management, in line with SBMU guidelines, to secure funding.
* **Urban Local Bodies (ULBs):**
* *Impact:* Have devolved power for water and sanitation services and are responsible for executing sanitation projects.
* *Action Required:* Implement source segregation, door-to-door collection, and scientific waste management practices to achieve "Garbage Free" status.
* **Chandigarh Administration:**
* *Impact:* Receives funding and support from the central government for solid waste management initiatives.
* *Action Required:* Continue implementing and improving solid waste management practices to maintain 100% door-to-door collection, source segregation, and waste processing, as well as utilize allocated funds effectively.
Key Entities Referenced
Chandigarh: Union Territory of Chandigarh, where the Solid Waste Processing Plant is located and the subject of the question.
Solid Waste Processing Plant: A facility in Chandigarh that has been non-operational since April 2024, leading to wage delays for sanitation workers.
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA): The Government of India ministry responsible for housing and urban development, including sanitation and waste management.
Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBMU): A Government of India initiative launched on October 2, 2014, focused on achieving Open Defecation Free (ODF) cities and scientific processing of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW).
Swachh Bharat Mission SBMU 2.0: The second phase of the Swachh Bharat Mission, launched on October 1, 2021, with the goal of achieving Garbage Free Status for all cities.
Constitution of India: The governing document of India, where sanitation is a State subject under the 7th schedule and devolved to Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) by the 74th amendment.
Urban Local Bodies ULBs: Local government bodies responsible for planning, designing, executing, and operating sanitation projects in urban areas.
State Level Technical Committee SLTC: A committee that approves the action plans based on which funds are released to the States/UTs under SBMU.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4687
TO BE ANSWERED ON AUGUST 21, 2025
STATUS OF SOLID WASTE PROCESSING PLANT IN CHANDIGARH
NO. 4687 SHRI MANISH TEWARI:
Will the Minister of HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware that the Solid Waste Processing Plant
in Chandigarh has remained non-operational since April 2024 and the
sanitation workers linked to the facility have not received wages for over
three months;
(b) if so, the number of workers affected by wage delays, the reasons for non-
payment along with the steps taken to ensure timely disbursal of salaries;
(c) whether the Government has received any request or proposal from the
Chandigarh Administration for re-tendering of plant operations or for
setting up of alternate solid waste processing mechanisms and if so, the
details thereof;
(d) the average quantum of solid waste generated daily in Chandigarh along
with the manner in which it is currently being managed in the absence of
a functional plant; and
(e) whether any penal or contractual action has been taken against the
private concessionaire responsible for the facility’s operational failure
and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE
MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
(SHRI TOKHAN SAHU)
(a) to (e) : Sanitation is a State subject under 7th schedule of the
constitution and by the 74th amendment of the Constitution of India the
devolution of power has been made to the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) for
water and sanitation services. It is the responsibility of State/UTs/Urban
Local Bodies (ULBs) to plan, design, execute and operate sanitation
projects in the urban areas of the country. Ministry of Housing & Urban
Affairs (MoHUA) supplements the efforts of States/UTs by providing policy
directions, financial and technical support by sharing Manuals/Standard
of Procedures (SoPs) on Solid Waste Management (SWM) & Used Water
Management (UWM) and issue various Advisories & Guidelines time to
time for choosing appropriate technologies to manage solid and liquid
waste.
…2/--2-
To support States/UTs with adequate sanitation and solid waste
management systems Government of India launched the Swachh Bharat
Mission-Urban (SBM-U) on October 2, 2014 with the objective of Open
Defecation Free (ODF) cities and for scientific processing of Municipal
Solid Waste (MSW) generated in all urban areas of the country including
Chandigarh. To carry forward the progress made, Swachh Bharat Mission
(SBM-U) 2.0 has been launched on October 1, 2021 for a period of five
years with a vision of achieving Garbage Free Status for all cities through
source segregation, door to door collection and scientific management of
all fractions of waste. Under SBM-U, funds are released by Government of
India to the States/UTs on the basis of their action plan duly approved by
State Level Technical Committee (SLTC).
UT of Chandigarh has reported, 100% door to door collection is
practiced in 100% of the wards i.e. 35 wards out of the total 35 wards and
source segregation is being practiced in 100% of the wards i.e. 35 wards
out of total 35 wards. Further, processing of municipal solid waste is also
reported to be 100% i.e. out of total 490 tons per day (TPD) of waste
generated, 490 TPD waste is processed.
Further, UT of Chandigarh has been allocated an amount of ₹28.50
crores under SWM component of SBM-U 2.0. Out of the allocated funds,
action plans having central share of ₹28.50 crores have been approved
and ₹21.27 crores have already been released.
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