Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 06 February 2025
In a significant push toward achieving sustainable waste management in the islands, a multi-stakeholder consultation on “Effective Solid Waste Management for Zero Waste Islands” was held on February 5, 2025, at Lemon Tree Hotel, Lamba Line, Sri Vijaya Puram. The event was organized by the ANET – Dakshin Foundation team in collaboration with the Department of Rural Development and with the active support of the Department of Environment and Forests.
The consultation brought together a diverse range of stakeholders and witnessed the participation of over 50 individuals, including government officials, technical experts, scientists, private waste management enterprises, and civil society representatives. Key attendees included Mr. Sandeep Behera, Deputy Conservator of Forests (South Andaman), Ms. Sapna Priya, Director (Department of Rural Development), Mr. Bijoy Kumar Das, SNO (Rural Development), Ms. Lalita Tigga, BDO (Ferrargunj), Ms. Gurjeet Kaur, BDO (Prothrapur), and Mr. Mohammed Yunus, BDO (Nancowry), along with officials from ANPCC, DBRAIT, ITI, Pondicherry University, and representatives from private waste management firms like NHC Enterprise and Island Waste Recyclers.
Representatives from various Gram Panchayats, including Wandoor, Guptapara, Humfrygunj, Mannarghat, Beodnabad, Collinpur, Brindaban, Chouldhari, and Shore Point, also participated, contributing their on-ground perspectives on waste management challenges.
The consultation began with a presentation on “Waste Management in the Islands and Priority Challenges”, followed by focused group discussions on four critical themes:
- Strengthening Equipment Management Capacity
- Safeguarding ANI’s Fragile Environment and Heritage
- Innovative Solutions for Glass, Sanitary, and Wet Waste Management
- Achieving Total Solid Waste Management (SWM) Coverage in Gram Panchayats
Participants were divided into groups for brainstorming sessions and collaboratively developed actionable plans. Responsibilities were assigned to various stakeholders to ensure effective implementation of these strategies.
This consultation built on the first multi-stakeholder meeting organized by Dakshin Foundation in June 2024. The February 2025 session reinforced collaboration among stakeholders and further refined strategies for addressing the unique waste management challenges of the islands. It served as a crucial platform to identify gaps in the existing SWM framework and explore innovative solutions to achieve the goal of “Zero Waste Islands.” (Story Based on a PR)