Assessment of the status of municipal solid waste management (MSWM) in Lucknow – Capital city of Uttar Pradesh, India

Management of solid waste is one of the most challenging problems in India's cities and towns.Increasing population levels, rapid economic growth and rise in community living standards accelerate the rate of generation of municipal solid waste (MSW) in Indian cities.Most of the urban areas are currently facing a serious problem of land and water pollution due to the generation of huge quantities of solid waste and their open dumping.In the present study an assessment is made of the existing situation of municipal solid waste management (MSWM) in Lucknow city, UP (India).The current status of MSWM as per the MSW Rules, 2000 has also been appraised and an action plan for better management has been formulated.The quantitative and qualitative characteristics of MSW along with basic information have been evaluated for Lucknow city.The geographic information system has also been used to digitize the existing MSW dumping sites.The present study has showed that there are many shortcomings in the existing MSWM practices.The Lucknow city is one of the most densely populated, commercialized and urbanized city of India.This city is also adding on commercial centres and new urban extensions which are providing additional housing services and employment opportunities to increasing population resulting into generation of huge quantity of MSW.The inhabitants of Lucknow presently generate approximately 1500 tonnes of MSW every day.In the absence of sanitary landfills or other protected and lined dumping places, the MSW is transported to the various dumpsites, near fun republic mall Gomti Nagar, Telibagh Bhattha Maidan, Ghaila (Dubbga) Hardoi-Kanpur Ring Road and Ramdaskheda, Kursi Road.Such open dumping poses environmental and health hazards as leachate from open dumps are becoming major sources of groundwater contamination in the subsequent years of dumping MSW.