Kerala has taken a significant step toward environmental sustainability, with 1,021 out of 1,034 local self-government institutions in the state officially declared ‘waste-free.’ The milestone, announced by Kerala Minister for Local Self-Governments M B Rajesh on Monday, marks a major achievement in the state’s waste management initiatives.
A Milestone in Waste-Free Governance
In a Facebook post, Rajesh revealed that 19,093 out of 19,489 panchayats and municipal wards in Kerala have achieved ‘waste-free’ status. This means that 97.96% of wards and 98.47% of local self-government institutions have successfully met the state’s waste management criteria.
“The milestone we achieved yesterday gives Kerala the confidence that nothing is impossible,” Rajesh wrote, emphasizing that the achievement coincided with International Zero Waste Day.
Evaluations and Achievements
A panel of experts assessed the progress of each local body before certifying them as waste-free. The institutions had to achieve 80% compliance across 13 government-mandated waste management criteria.
The minister outlined the achievement as follows:
- 934 gram panchayats
- 82 municipalities
- 5 corporations
These local bodies successfully met the government’s waste management standards, leading to 99.26% of gram panchayats and 94.25% of municipalities being declared waste-free.
Transforming Challenges into Success
The Waste-Free Kerala campaign, spearheaded by local self-government institutions and various government departments, has become one of the most widely participated movements in the state. Rajesh highlighted that the campaign initially faced significant public resistance, particularly in setting up mini-MCFs (Material Collection Facilities).
However, Kerala has since undergone a remarkable transformation, with cities like Sultan Bathery, Alappuzha, and Guruvayur emerging as success stories in waste management.
A major turning point for the campaign was the Brahmapuram fire incident. On March 2, 2023, a massive fire at the Brahmapuram waste treatment plant in Kochi engulfed the city in toxic smoke for nearly two weeks. The crisis prompted a renewed focus on waste management, leading to substantial progress.
Kerala vs. Indore: A State-Wide Success Story
Rajesh compared Kerala’s achievement to that of Indore in Madhya Pradesh, which is widely recognized as a model city for waste management. However, he pointed out that while Indore’s success is commendable, it remains limited to a single city, whereas Kerala’s waste-free initiative spans an entire state.
“The surrounding areas of Indore and even Madhya Pradesh as a state have not reached the same milestone. What makes Kerala’s achievement unique is that an entire state has successfully implemented a waste-free initiative,” Rajesh stated.
Future Roadmap for a Fully Waste-Free Kerala
To maintain and expand this progress, Kerala will roll out a comprehensive action plan focusing on:
- Sustaining waste-free areas
- Strengthening waste management strategies
- Implementing complete digital tracking
- Establishing recycling parks
According to data from the Harithamithram app, Kerala’s Haritha Karma Sena collected inorganic waste from 87.75 lakh households and establishments in March alone. This figure does not include data from 15 local self-government institutions that do not use the app.
The minister urged continued public cooperation to help Kerala achieve 100% waste-free status in the near future.
With this achievement, Kerala has once again set a benchmark in sustainable governance, proving that environmental transformation is possible when local communities and government initiatives work hand in hand.
Sources By Agencies
