Web-Based Integrated Waste Management System Launched

The government Monday launched a web-based application which will enable industries dealing in hazardous waste to seek online permissions for import and export of certain categories of waste used for recycling.

With an aim to make the process "transparent", the application on Integrated Waste Management System (IWMS) apart from being a single window access will also expedite the way permission is granted and the way analysis of such wastes is done.

"This will provide an opportunity to all the industries dealing in hazardous waste to apply online. The user-friendly application can also track the movement of hazardous waste and will also help in ensuring its proper management," Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar told reporters.

Terming it as another "landmark" initiative Javadekar said the Ministry too can track movement of such waste and its proper management.

He said his Ministry has already launched solid, biomedical, e-waste, plastic, construction and demolition and hazardous waste management rules and the new application will add value to the integrated waste management system.

Javadekar pointed out that there are an estimated 43,000 industries dealing in hazardous waste out of which about 30,000 industries have been mapped through this application.

"The objective of the web-based application is to enhance transparency in the working of the Ministry and other Centre and state level regulatory bodies and also to reduce the time taken for processing applications, seeking various types of permissions under the recently notified waste management regulations.

"In addition to being a single window access, this application is expected to expedite the way permission is granted and analysis could be done not only for authorization and consents but also for import and export permission under the rules," an official statement said.

The application will also help in generating data base on different categories of wastes generated including those of hazardous, biomedical, municipal, electronic and plastic waste.

Elaborating on the benefits of such a portal, the Ministry said that it will make available state-wise and national database on generation of various types of waste and number of waste generating or processing industrial units in the country at one place.

"This will help the authorities to identify the problem areas and plan accordingly," it said.

The application will help people to apply and get online permissions for import and export of certain categories of waste, which is for reuse, recycling or recovery while it will also help authorities in web-based processing, generation and grant of various types of permissions to the entrepreneurs and industries.

It is also aimed at implementing the concept of paperless and green office and provide information regarding number authorizations or consent orders granted by the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs).

It will also enable agencies to check the fate of their application any time through this web-based portal. "The industry dashboard will show the application filed and sent to SPCB, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) or Ministry for approval with regards to authorization, Consent to Establish, Consent to Operate or for Import or Export permission," the statement said.

The single window access will also help in bridging the gap between industries and other waste generators, recyclers, operators of disposal facilities, SPCBs, CPCB, municipalities and the concerned ministries for environmentally sound waste management of such wastes, it said.

The Phase- II or the upgraded version of the IWMS is expected to encompass generation of annual report from the annual return filed by the industries and other stakeholders for various type of waste generated in the country.

This version will provide customized GIS based information on waste management in the country. The GIS maps will be generated and integrated with underlying information to provide an excellent visual outlook to the available data, the statement said.