Greater Noida/Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh’s Urban Development and Energy Minister A.K. Sharma said that scientific solid waste management can secure the sanitation, environment and future of coming generations in the state’s cities. He was speaking at a seminar on solid waste management organized by the Urban Development Department during the state’s Fourth International Trade Show, held at the Noida Expo Mart.
Addressing the gathering, Sharma said solid waste management is not merely a matter of cleanliness but is closely tied to the health, environment, economy and future generations of India’s cities. He said effective waste management can help keep cities clean while also protecting the environment and controlling pollution.
The minister said the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, launched under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has turned cleanliness into a mass movement across the country. The government’s current effort, he said, is to make that movement more scientific, systematic and sustainable through modern technology, improved management systems and greater public participation.
Citing the success of the solid waste processing plant at Shivri in Lucknow and the Prerna Sthal site, Sharma noted that urban areas generate large volumes of solid waste every day, and that scientific management could turn this waste into a significant opportunity. He described waste management as a growing business opportunity, saying sectors such as compressed biogas (CBG), waste-to-energy, biofuel, and recycling and reprocessing could generate new industries and employment. Better solid waste management, he added, plays a key role in improving cities’ overall quality of life, and the state government continues to work toward providing citizens better facilities and a cleaner, healthier environment under the leadership of Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
Sharma also highlighted the direct link between solid waste management and air quality, noting that proper waste disposal and processing reduce open burning of garbage and help control pollution. He pointed out that several cities in Uttar Pradesh have secured notable rankings in the national Swachh Vayu Survekshan (Clean Air Survey), crediting the achievement to the guidance of Modi, Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, as well as the sustained efforts of officials, staff and sanitation workers.
The event began with Anuj Kumar Jha, Secretary/Director of the Urban Development Department, welcoming Minister Sharma with a bouquet. Jha said events like the International Trade Show help connect solid waste management in Uttar Pradesh with modern technology and scientific systems, further improving cleanliness in urban local bodies.
The program was also attended by special guest V.K. Chaurasia, along with delegates, experts and other dignitaries from India and abroad.
