Students clean up beaches as part of ‘Nirmal Tat Abhiyaan’

News:The Ministry of Environment is undertaking a mass cleanliness drive in 50 identified beaches under the Swachh – Nirmal Tat Abhiyaan.

Facts:

About Swachh – Nirmal Tat Abhiyaan:

• The objective of the abhiyaan is to make beaches clean and create awareness amongst people about the importance of coastal ecosystems.
• The identified beaches are in 10 coastal States/Union Territories (UTs) namely Gujarat, Daman & Diu, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.
• The cleaning drives in all beaches are being undertaken involving school  students of Eco-clubs, district administration, institutions, volunteers, local communities and other stakeholders.
• The collected waste will be processed as per Waste Management Rules, 2016.
• The Environment Education Division under the Society of Integrated Coastal Management(SICOM) of Environment Ministry will be responsible for the overall coordination for the drive in 50 beaches. 

Additional information:

About Solid Waste Management Rules,2016:

• These rules had replaced the Municipal Solid Waste(Management and Handling) Rules,2000.
• The rules are applicable beyond municipal areas and have included urban agglomerations, census towns, notified industrial townships among others.
• The rules focus on segregation of waste at source, responsibility on the manufacturer to dispose of sanitary and packaging wastes, user fees for collection, disposal and processing from the bulk generator.
• The rules also provides for integration of waste pickers/ rag pickers and waste dealers in the formal system.This is to be done by State Governments and Self Help Group or any other group to be formed.