the Union government is planning to prohibit location of landfill sites within a 10-km radius of airports and airbases in the direction of the fly-in tunnel and within three kilometres in other directions.

The move is to ensure that birds hovering over landfills do not obstruct the air passage and endanger air safety. The landfills are further required to be at least 500 metres away from the nearest residential house or public building.

These are the new measures planned to regulate collection, handling and disposal of municipal solid wastes in urban areas. Along with this, dumping of wastes from industries, slaughter houses and dairies will also be prohibited. Civic bodies which are required to observe the norms include municipal corporations, municipalities, nagar nigams, nagar palikas and municipal councils. Sources at the environment ministry say the draft legislation has already been finalised and all departments will be notified after consulting the urban affairs ministry.