Maharashtra's STP model to become a national benchmark: Dy CM Eknath Shinde
New Delhi/Mumbai, May 21 Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday said that the state's Sewage Treatment Plant model has proved highly effective and will soon be developed as an "ideal model" at the national level.
Calling it a matter of pride for Maharashtra, DCM Shinde said the state government was taking concrete steps towards implementing the concepts of "Zero Waste" and "Waste-to-Energy".
A statement issued by the Deputy Chief Minister's Office said that Shinde represented Maharashtra at the National Review Meeting of the 'Swachh Bharat Mission Urban 2.0', organised by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
During the meeting, DCM Shinde gave a detailed presentation on the cleanliness campaigns and urban waste management projects currently being implemented in Maharashtra.
He also assured that the key guidelines and suggestions provided by the Central Government during the meeting would be implemented effectively across the state.
Highlighting Maharashtra's current progress and future roadmap, Shinde said, "The Swachh Bharat Mission is no longer merely a government campaign, but has transformed into a major public movement in Maharashtra."
"Through the effective implementation of 'Waste-to-Wealth' initiatives, Compressed Biogas (CBG) projects and the state's Green Policy, waste is rapidly being converted into valuable resources," he added.
He further said that the Maharashtra government was actively promoting these initiatives through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models in an effort to accelerate the campaign and encourage sustainable waste management practices.
Deputy CM Shinde also highlighted the broader philosophy behind the mission, stating that the ultimate objective of cleanliness initiatives was not merely to clean surroundings, but to bring about positive behavioural changes in the mindset and habits of citizens.
He said Maharashtra was witnessing encouraging results in this direction due to growing public awareness and participation.
Expressing confidence over the future of the cleanliness mission, Shinde said that active public participation, adoption of modern technology and innovative administrative practices would help the country achieve new milestones in urban sanitation and waste management.
According to the government release, Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar emphasised during the meeting that states should adopt one another's best practices under the 'Swachh Survekshan' and 'Swachh City Pairing' initiatives.
"Cleanliness is not just an administrative programme; it is a collective responsibility linked to public health, human dignity and the overall quality of life of citizens," Khattar said while urging all states to intensify their cleanliness efforts.
The meeting also focused on strengthening inter-state coordination, sharing successful urban sanitation models and accelerating the implementation of sustainable waste management systems across the country.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Very proud moment for Maharashtra! 🙌 The Swachh Bharat Mission has actually transformed into a jan andolan now. I've seen the change in my own locality - from open dumping to proper segregation and composting. Waste-to-Energy projects can solve so many of our urban problems if executed properly.
Good initiative but I hope they also focus on sewage treatment in slum areas and not just fancy models for corporates. PPP models often benefit big companies more than local communities. Need to ensure small contractors and local waste pickers are also included in this 'ideal model'. Prakriti aur prabandhan dono ka dhyan rakhna chahiye.
The behavioural change aspect mentioned by DCM Shinde is crucial! I teach in a school in Thane and we've seen amazing response from children after Swachh Bharat activities. They now remind parents about waste segregation at home. This is how real change happens - from the next generation. Technology adoption will definitely help scale up.
Interesting to see Maharashtra taking leadership in waste management. Coming from Bangalore, I wish Karnataka would also learn from this STP model. The 'Swachh City Pairing' concept mentioned by Union Minister Khattar sounds smart - states can learn from each other's successes instead of reinventing the wheel. Hope to see practical knowledge sharing.
Ek baat toh clear hai - Maharashtra is setting an example! The Compressed Biogas (CBG) projects are particularly impressive. Our village in Satara has started biogas plants and it's reducing both waste and LPG dependency. But DCM Shinde should focus more on rural-
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