Affidavit by Union Territory of Lakshadweep in OA No 606 of 2018 with respect to compliance of MSW Management Rules, 2016 and other environmental issues).

The report is dated 07/11/2024. The affidavit has been prepared in compliance with the order dated May 14, 2019 by the NGT wherein, it has been directed to furnish quarterly reports.

The present report indicated the progress for the period from April 1, 2024 to September 30, 2024. The report is also in compliance with the directions passed by the NGT vide order dated April 23, 2024. Subsequent to the observations/directions passed by the NGT, the Lakshadweep Administration has undertaken various steps.

They include the constitution of a high-level monitoring committee (HLMC) on liquid waste management and other environmental matters. In addition, solid waste generation in Lakshadweep islands was assessed as about 18 tonnes per day (TPD) out of which about 12 TPD is non-biodegradable waste while the balance 6 TPD is mainly kitchen waste. The residents of Lakshadweep are encouraged to manage the kitchen waste at the household level, such as feeding it to animals like cattle, goats, poultry.

Further, the Department of Panchayat held meetings on May 7, 2024 and May 30, 2024 under the chairmanship of the Secretary (Panchayats) with key stakeholders from various departments such as animal husbandry, agriculture, fisheries, science & technology, and industries to assess the consumption of kitchen waste by cattle, poultry, goats in the islands. It was observed that a total of 620 cattle, 22,680 goats and 83,410 poultry are available as per the Department of Animal Husbandry statistics for the year 2023-2024. The average requirement for consumption of cattle, poultry and goats was estimated at 10.64 MT/day.

The Department of Science and Technology has installed and commissioned 35 biogas plants across Kavaratti, Minicoy and Kalpeni islands. These plants collectively can manage up to 269.5 kg of kitchen waste per day.

When it comes to non-biodegradable waste, considering that a part of the waste is incinerable, two municipal solid waste management incinerators of a capacity of 100 kg/hour was installed in the islands of Kavaratti and Agatti during the year 2019-2020 for the incineration of incinerable waste generated in the islands. At present, 1925 MT of waste in all islands remains to be incinerated, primarily due to the limited capacity of the incinerators.

The main source of sewage on the island includes individual households, private commercial establishments and government establishments. All these establishments in Lakshadweep have septic tanks and soak pits for faecal waste and separate soak pits for non-faecal wastewater management. The Union Territory has also provided 1618 bio-digesters in three islands of Andrott, Kavaratti and Bitra.