Solid Waste Management Practices and Raising Environmental Concerns: A Case Study of Gangtok Municipal Corporation Areas, Sikkim
Municipal solid waste is a growing concern in the urban localities across the nations. In recent years, urban local bodies have shown considerable importance to address the issue of solid waste management. The paper attempts to understand the role of Gangtok Municipal Corporation (GMC) in collection, transportation and disposal of solid waste, the nature of its collaboration with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), people’s participation in handling waste and its consequent effect on the environment. The study was carried out by using qualitative research design, employing interviews, focus group discussion and in-depth observation methods with all the important stakeholders such as GMC officials, workers, NGOs, and households. The study finds that the primary focus of the corporation remains on collecting and transporting largely unsegregated mixed waste from the main roads, markets, and other visible places. Although the corporation is working in partnership with the NGOs, it is struggling to implement the SWM rules and failed to collect the user fees efficiently. Findings suggest that even though majority of the people are aware of the ills of burning and dumping garbage, yet people’s participation in SWM related activities is still limited.