Swachh Survekshan survey on municipal solid waste management: An intercity comparison/

Abstract

India has drawn global attention because of its rapid urbanization, industrialization, and population growth. However, huge economic development has resulted in a significant increase in waste output and natural resource usage, leading to environmental degradation and pollution. In India, the essential responsibilities of Municipal Corporations and urban local authorities are to effectively manage and appropriately handle it. Effective MSW management is a big challenge in cities with limited land space and a large population, which generate thousands of tonnes of municipal solid waste. India has around 18% of the world's population and generates about 12% of its municipal solid waste. India's waste generation is predicted to boost in the coming years as the country's population continues to grow. As a result, its management is having difficulties. India's sorting and disposal facilities are inadequate, even though many cities have door-to-door waste collection, and technical advancements but most of the cities lack a sustainable way of dealing with MSW. It is essential to solve the present challenge to improve the MSW management system's efficiency and effectiveness.In India, under the Swachh Bharat Mission cleanliness survey known as Swachh Survekshan was undertaken to efficiently manage city waste. The MoUD initiated the Swachh Survekshan survey (cleanliness survey) in 2016 as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. This annual survey's main goal is to rank all Indian cities to enhance local sanitation and cleanliness. From 2016 to 2021, there are six annual reports available, each of which includes a ranking of various cities across the country. This annual ranking system is based on an assessment of India's present cleanliness, health, solid waste management, and sanitation conditions. Across the six years of the survey era, there are differences in the evaluation process and ranking technique of surveys. To better understand its evaluation system for cities, two cities have been chosen Indore and Bhopal, both of which are located in the same state and have a similar population. So, the study aims to examine the differences between two cities in MSWM. The research provides a thorough picture of Bhopal's and Indore's existing waste generation and disposal scenarios, as well as an insight into the mechanisms used in each city.This research will further examine the Swachh Survekshan survey in both cities to compare performance based on the indicators used in the survey, as well as to understand the survey's evaluation framework and methodology. Finally, the research will recommend some strategies for the poor-performed city to improve the handling of municipal solid waste based on the study's findings.