Vasai-Virar is making strides in urban waste management, with frequent garbage collection from commercial and residential areas, and extensive street sweeping to maintain cleanliness. The city’s commitment to reducing air pollution is evident in its plans to introduce additional sweeping machines, capable of collecting smaller particles that manual sweeping cannot address. The city processes legacy waste using trommels and recovers 26% of its solid waste management costs from user charges.
Sukdev Darveshi, Assistant Municipal Commissioner at Vasai Virar City Municipal Corporation, highlights the city’s efforts to combat air pollution, stating, “In a few months, five more sweeping machines will hit the roads to make the city dust-free and reduce air pollution.” On-site composting is practised by resident welfare associations and self-help groups, with a toll-free number available for sewer and septic tank cleaning services.
The Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation (VVCMC) is proactively addressing solid waste management with a comprehensive plan aimed at achieving 100% waste collection and segregation. The infrastructure includes a variety of equipment, from 72,500 distributed dustbins to compactors, dumpers, and mechanised road sweeping machines, ensuring efficient waste handling.
Our solid waste management plan is comprehensive and inclusive, aiming for 100% waste collection and segregation. We are proud of our initiatives under the Swachh Bharat Mission, which have not only contributed to cost recovery but also empowered local communities and RWAs to actively participate in waste management.”
Sukdev Darveshi
Under the Swachh Bharat Mission, VVCMC has implemented user charges, covering 26% of the solid waste management service costs. The initiative has also empowered 70 Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) and 128 Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to practise on-site composting, contributing to waste reduction and providing livelihood opportunities.
To raise awareness and educate citizens on solid waste management, VVCMC has engaged an agency for Information Education & Communication (IEC) work. The corporation is tackling legacy waste with a 300 TPD capacity trommel and has plans for a dumpsite remediation project to process around 15 lakh tons of accumulated waste. Additionally, an agency will soon be appointed to process the daily collected waste of approximately 686 TPD.
Under the Safai Mitra Suraksha Challenge Mission, VVCMC has upgraded its waste management infrastructure with advanced machines for sewer line and septic tank cleaning. A dedicated helpline and WhatsApp group facilitate quick resolution of related complaints, while the establishment of a Responsible Sanitation Authority (RSA) and an Emergency Sanitation Response Unit (ERSU) ensure efficient and safe waste disposal practices. The collection of sanitation tax and user charges for these services contributes to the financial sustainability of the waste management system, maintaining a clean and hygienic environment for the residents of Vasai-Virar.