GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5401
TO BE ANSWERED ON APRIL 03, 2025
WASTE MANAGEMENT POLICIES
NO. 5401. MS. S JOTHIMANI:

Will the Minister for HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the current national waste management policies and whether there have been any recent updates to improve urban waste management;
(b) the action taken/being taken by the Government to integrate advanced waste management technologies such as waste-to-energy, AI-driven waste sorting and recycling innovations;
(c) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to ensure the financial sustainability of waste management programmes along with the details of the budgetary allocations made for urban waste management in the current fiscal year;
(d) the measures taken/being taken by the Government to encourage Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in waste management along with the details of the incentives for private sector investment; and
(e) the details of the projects being planned to reduce landfill dependency and promote circular economy principles?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
(SHRI TOKHAN SAHU)

(a): At present Solid Waste Manage Management in the country is governed by The Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 (SWM Rules, 2016) notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).…2/-
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) proposed the Draft Solid Waste Management Rules, 2024, on December 9, 2024, aiming to address unmanaged solid waste, promote circular economy principles, and strengthen monitoring & enforcement.
(b) to (e): Sanitation is a State subject under 7th schedule of the constitution and by the 74thamendment 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/ULBs to plan, design, execute and operate sanitation projects in the urban areas of the country. To support the States/ULBs, Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) provide policy directions, financial and technical support by sharing Manuals/Standard of Procedures (SoPs) on Solid Waste Management and issue various Advisories & Guidelines time to time for choosing appropriate technologies to manage solid waste. The selection of technologies is open to ULBs/State Governments, allowing them to choose any proven technology as outlined in the Central Public Health & Environmental Engineering Organisation (CPHEEO) Manual and advisories issued from time to time. Funds under SBM-U are allocated for the entire mission period and not on yearly basis. Under SBM – U 2.0, the total financial outlay of the States and UTs for the Mission Period is ₹1, 41, 600 Cr, including committed Central Assistance of ₹36,465 Cr.
Further, under SBM-U 2.0, projects under Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode are encouraged to invite private capital in urban infrastructure as well as to bring in private sector efficiency in delivery of urban services and Operation & Maintenance (O&M). MoHUA promotes technology innovation for solid and liquid waste management. SBM 2.0 has launched a Swachhata Start-up Challenge to on-board Start-ups and entrepreneurs to promote technologies and innovation in the sector.