Kollur Gram Panchayat (GP) in Yadgir District of Karnataka has found that an improved waste collection system can not only address the root cause of blocked drainages but also reduce the associated cleaning costs that were found to be escalating each year.
Several factors contribute to drainage blockages, including collapsed pipes, insufficient slopes, heavy rainfall, and inadequate maintenance. However, the biggest cause of drain blockages or overflows in the villages is the accumulation of plastic and other waste and debris.
Research by Saahas, a waste management company that provides end-to-end waste management based on the principles of circular economy, found that local bodies spend a substantial amount on drain cleaning activities especially in villages as most of the drains are not covered. However, by improving door to door collection, waste dumping was curtailed which resulted in lower expenditure incurred on drain cleaning.
A blocked drain system and the challenges that stemmed from cleaning and maintaining the drainage system were a longstanding concern for the community in Kollur GP of Shahpur Taluk. It was common for the drainage infrastructure to get frequently clogged with debris, silt, and vegetation, leading to blockages and overflow, particularly during the monsoons. The cleaning process was manual with the use of basic tools such as shovels and buckets, which was unhygienic while disposing of the waste posed other challenges.
Over the years, the quantum of waste had been increasing and it was a struggle not only to secure labourers to carry out such cleaning activities but also to meet the escalating costs.
The Panchayat had recognised these issues and was wondering if an improved waste collection system could address the issue. In 2019-20 the Panchayat had spent Rs.4 lakh just to clean the drainage. However, within just one year of starting the SBM-G solid waste management programme (SWM) which included a proper collection system, the GP was delighted to notice a significant drop in the expenditure. The cost had come down to Rs.2 lakhs which meant a savings of 50%.
The same held true in 21 other GPs in the Taluk, based on the data collected by Saahas. Saahas had collected data on the drain cleaning expenditure from 23-gram Panchayats, before the year 2019-20 and after the year 2020-21 when implementing the village SWM programme.
Declarations from the respective Gram Panchayats affirming these findings are proof of their findings. These particular Gram Panchayats were actively engaged in Solid Waste Management (SWM) initiatives for a minimum of one year, with support from Saahas. The programme primarily focuses on behaviour change with regard to waste segregation and waste dumping. At the same time, the door-to-door waste collection system was made more disciplined.
Saahas’ findings also showed that other than one Panchayat, the rest of the GPs showed significant savings in the cost. The savings were primarily coming from reduced frequency of drain cleaning. The highest saving of Rs 5.6 Lakh was for Anneshwara GP with about 3000 shops and houses. In terms of percentage reduction, Sanoor GP from Karkala saw a drop of almost 94%. Both of these GPs had achieved a very high level (more than 90%) of door-to-door collection. The average savings was 34% with overall savings of Rs 29 lakhs across 23 GPs. This amount included the increase of Rs 50,000 for Bhujanganagar Panchayat.
In Karnataka, Solid Waste Management (SWM) initiatives in Gram Panchayats (GPs) are being implemented through Self-Help Groups (SHGs). Attaining economic viability from the sale of dry waste service fees has been a challenge. By supporting them with additional funds that can be drawn through the savings in drain cleaning activities can become an attractive incentivisation mechanism.
Further, under the 15th Finance Commission, 30% of the funds are allocated for Solid and Liquid Waste Management (SLWM). Many of these Gram Panchayats allocate most of these funds to drainage cleaning activities, reserving only a limited amount for SWM. Considering that the effective implementation of Solid Waste Management (SWM) systems leads to cost savings in drainage cleaning, the GPS must actively allocate higher funds (60% to 70% of the funds designated for SLWM) for SWM.
Further, the SHGs could be made accountable for reduced waste dumping in the drains as a key performance criterion. This would bolster the financial sustainability of SHGs and also foster efficient waste management practices within the Gram Panchayats.
Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) 