Segregation of Garbage at Source” in Nilgiris District. Managing the solid wastes generated bythe domestic, Commercia and Industrial establishment is one of the difficult tasks faced by the Local Bodies. If the solid wastes are not scientifically disposed off, it will be a major hazard to the Ecology and Environment. To avoid the repercussions of disposing the Solid Wastes in a non- scientific manner and to protect the environment, an elaborate and systematic way of disposing the solid waste like segregation, collection and transporting the solid waste has to be meticulously planned. In this regard, the Udhagamandalam Municipality had planned to segregate the solid waste at the source itself. In this connection it has been decided to collect the solid waste from the house holds by engaging sanitary workers. To the places where it is not possible to collect the disposals from the source, it has been decided to keep two dust bins, one in red and t he other in green, at a place easily accessible for the people living in that area.
The general public has been adequately informed through pamphlets and other awareness programmes to segregate the solid waste and to put the degradable waste in the green dust bin and non-degradable waste in the red dust bin. Apart from this it has been decided to keep black color dustbins at Hospitals for t he disposal of bio - medical wastes. In this connection the following action has been initiated - The Udhagamandalam Municipality had organized a programme for the Residential Community Volunteers and the Self Help Groups on the awareness of the solid waste management on 06.11.2001 at 3.00 PM. About 115 members have participated in the programme. The Municipal Commissioner had elaborated the details and the necessity of the collection of the solid waste at the source itself. A meeting with the NGOs like USSS and HOPE was organized on 16.11.2001. The meeting was well attended and the service organizations have aired their views in the regard. The Sanitary Inspectors of the Municipality had also participated in the meeting. A training camp was inaugurated by the Collector for the Sanitary Inspectors & Sanitary supervisors conducted by the Nehru Yuva Kendra and HOPE.