The Local Self-Governments department has notified Disaster Waste Management Protocol for the management of waste generated during natural and man-made disasters. Minister for Local Self-Governments M.B. Rajesh will officially release the protocol on Tuesday. The State government prepared the protocol in light of the experiences after the landslides at Chooralmala and Mundakkai villages in Wayanad district in 2024.
Initially, the local body faced significant challenges in managing waste, due to the absence of pre-framed disaster management action plans. The absence of a protocol led to initial chaos, as the system was unprepared to handle the situation of such gravity. Current policies focus on handling waste during ‘peacetime’ and are not specifically designed for managing disaster waste.
The protocol prepared by the Suchitwa Mission clarifies the roles and responsibilities of each stakeholder department and to coordinate the various mechanisms for efficient waste handling, promote safe recycling and disposal, encourage efficient resource use, ensure the safety of volunteers and standardise the waste management practices during disasters.
Preparedness
According to the protocol, pre-disaster preparedness is essential for minimising the challenges in disaster waste management and ensuring an effective response. This involves proactive measures such as district-level mapping of the existing waste management facilities of the local bodies. The local bodies are required to prepare a comprehensive capacity building plan including content, target audience, resource persons, financial resources and timeline.
