CAG finds 15 of 18 Rajasthan ULBs still dump waste in open sites

It assessed the adequacy of resources, efficiency of utilization, and monitoring mechanisms under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016.

Who it concerns: Government of Rajasthan and its Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), specifically 18 test-checked ULBs including Municipal Corporations and Municipal Councils.

What the auditor found

• Low processing rates: Only 11-25% of waste was processed at the State level and 29-35% in test-checked ULBs, with 63-79% of waste directly dumped.
• Unutilized infrastructure: Landfill sites constructed by Jaipur and Baran at a cost of ₹12.06 crore remained unutilized due to lack of processing plants.
• Unused equipment: Compost machines procured by four ULBs between Feb 2019 and Dec 2019 were not used since installation.
• Lack of monitoring: Weigh bridges were not installed in 14 out of 18 test-checked ULBs, preventing accurate measurement of daily waste collection.
• Unspent funds: ₹11.99 crore allotted for Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) activities in 12 ULBs was not utilized for such activities during 2017-18 to 2021-22.
• Data inconsistencies: Waste generation data reported by ULBs differed from figures reported to the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board.
• Recommendations: CAG recommended installing weigh bridges and RFID systems, enhancing processing capacity to reduce landfill dependency, and constituting Health and Sanitation committees.

Also in the document

• CAG found that 15 out of 18 test-checked ULBs did not construct sanitary landfill sites and instead dumped municipal solid waste in open dumping sites.
• CAG noted that in 12 test-checked ULBs, neither specific centres for hazardous waste were established nor was hazardous/sanitary waste segregated at the source.
• CAG observed that in 9 test-checked ULBs, material recovery facilities were not covered or fenced, allowing stray animals to move around waste storage sites and causing waste to overflow onto roadsides.