Page 50 - CIJ Nov 2024 Digital Edition

WASTE MANAGEMENT

Changing Perspectives On Waste Management Approach
Changing Perspectives On Waste Management Approach
Moving from Health to
Moving from Health to

Wealth & back to Health
Wealth & back to Health

A thriving civilization produces waste as a by-product of its activities.
If this waste is not adequately managed, says Prof. Arun Kansal,

Director, ICWMR, TERI SAS, it can lead to accumulation problems.
History has shown that this accumulation of waste can devastate
human lives, often resulting in health crises.

he Industrial Medical College in 1865. By 1896, departments now oversee water
Revolution in the the Indian Plague Commission supply, sanitation, and drainage,
mid-nineteenth highlighted the importance of while medical officers manage
century led health and sanitation, requiring solid waste. In the 1950s, Roorkee
Tto increased Medical Officers of Health to hold Engineering College (now IIT
urbanization and denser a diploma in public health. The Roorkee) launched its first
settlements. Despite this, health School of Tropical Medicine was Master’s program in Public Health
issues related to waste were fewer founded in 1920, followed by the Engineering, marking a shift
and less severe than in earlier All-India Institute of Hygiene and towards a reliance on cement, steel,
periods. Waste problems were Public Health in 1932. and energy in public health.
mainly addressed for economic and Rapid urbanization has increased Environmental concerns emerged
political reasons. the roles of engineers and during the 1970s and 1980s,

In 1860, the British Royal architects in managing housing, primarily focusing on pollution.
Commission appointed sanitary infrastructure, and urban planning. Key events like the Bhopal gas
commissioners in Bengal, Madras, Government funding has largely tragedy in 1984 highlighted
and Bombay to improve health emphasized infrastructure, resulting hazard management’s importance,
conditions, particularly for their in more engineers in municipalities and the 1987 Brundtland
troops. The first Chair of Hygiene and a reduced role for public Commission introduced sustainable
was established at Calcutta health officers. Engineering development. Experts from various

NOVEMBER 2024•Clean India Journal
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