SHORT NOTES- Cleaning up the mess: need for a Waste Management Policy

• Less than 60% of waste is collected from households; of which 15% is processed.
• Hyperconsumption: Humans generate huge amounts of waste->disposed in landfills->through waste-
to-energy incinerators (cause health issues such as cancer)-> billions of tonnes of garbage including
microplastics end up in the oceans-> chokes marine life & disturbs zooplankton (vital to the elimination
of CO2 in atmosphere)
• Landfills are seedbeds of methane & other greenhouse gases, which contribute to global warming &
poison the soil.
Problems of unscientific MSW (Municipal solid waste) disposal
1. 75- 80% of municipal waste gets collected & only 22-28 % is processed & treated, remaining is
disposed of at dump yards.
2. Assumptions-By 2031 the MSW generation shall increase to 165 million tonnes & to 436 million tons
by 2050. 
3. If cities continue to dump the waste without treatment, it will need huge land per year to landfill.
4. Scientific disposal of solid waste through segregation, collection & treatment will minimize the
adverse impact on environment.
5. The local authorities are responsible for such infrastructure & proper planning and management is
need of the hour.
Problems in India in how waste is treated
a. Segregation of waste into organic, recyclable & hazardous categories is not enforced at source->mixed
waste lands up in the landfills->waste-pickers try to salvage recyclables->which are of poor quality &
quantity by then.
b. Waste management should not be offered free of cost to residents->when we pay we realise the
importance of segregation & recycling.
c. Issue of logistical contractors->they dump more garbage in landfills as their compensation is
proportional to tonnage of waste.
d. They even illegally dump waste at unauthorised sites to reduce transportation costs.
e. Organic farming and composting are not economically attractive & chemical pesticides are heavily
subsidized; compost is not efficiently marketed.
Conclusion
• The manufacturers/brand owners of sanitary napkins can spread awareness for proper disposal of
such waste.
• They should provide a pouch or wrapper for disposal of each napkin along with the packet.
• Sufficient power should be given to local bodies to decide the user fees.
• Municipal authorities will levy user fees for collection, disposal & processing.
• We need a comprehensive waste management policy that stresses the need for decentralised garbage
disposal practices.
• Citizen participation will help.
SHORT NOTES – Maldivian Wave
• Victory for Maldives President Ibu Solih’s in Parliament & return of ex-president Nasheed to active
politics as a MP will boost India’s strategic outreach where China has been attempting to make inroads.
• Current President will mandate to investigate the former government’s ties to China.
• Maldives has been in a battle for influence between India & China, which invested millions during
Abdulla Yameen’s rule as part of its Belt and Road plan.
Investigation of debts to China
1. Accusations-Yameen government allowed a Chinese ‘land grab’ of Maldivian islands, key
infrastructure, & essential utilities.
2. ‘Land grab’- increased concerns of falling into an economic neo-colonial influence of China.
3. Solih’s party promised voters to investigate debts to China, which could run as high as $3 billion.
4. Increased Chinese investments had made India wary as Delhi has been a traditional net security
provider in the region.
5. 80% of the Maldives’ foreign debt was owed to China (Former president Mohamed Nasheed).
6. New commission formation to investigate corruption & recovering state assets function with support
of the new Parliament.
India & Maldives friendship
a) Maldives foreign minister Abdulla Shahid: friendship between two has reached new heights since PM
Modi attended the swearing in of President Solih.
b) Indian government had announced a 1.4 billion US dollars assistance to Maldives and details of
projects are being formulated.
c) Maldives requested for assistance in construction of a cricket stadium during the recent visit to Male
of EAM.
d) New government promised for people-oriented projects like water & sewage facilities are being
implemented with generous assistance from the GOI.
e) Mr. Shahid: there is a very fruitful defense cooperation between the two countries.

Maldives want to unravel the web of Chinese Loans

1) Regarding India`s interests warm bilateral ties between New Delhi and Male are a high priority after 5
years of strategic drift that benefited Beijing.
2) The surging influx of Chinese infrastructure investment under the Yameen administration may have
caused the Maldives national debt to balloon to nearly a quarter of its GDP.
3) Debts where it was linked to the grant of land, lease rights & mega-construction projects, will be
complicated.
4) MoUs on Indian grant aid for “high-impact community development projects” have been signed, as
also agreements on clean energy and regional maritime security.