HYDERABAD: Major Shiva Kiran, after retiring from Indian Army, decided to do something that was close to his heart. He pitched in to do his bit to save the environment by starting an NGO Sukuki Exnora where the main focus was to encourage people to opt for decentralised waste management system. “Our city generates about four tonnes of waste everyday which is later dumped in dumpyards in Jawahar Nagar.
Instead of sending all the waste to dumpyards, the colonies should have their own waste management system. The waste that is biodegradable and can be recycled should be dumped in these plants to recycle,” says the Major. Setting up a treatment plant and working regularly to maintain it sounds complicated. But he says that it would just take little effort. “Out of the waste we generate, 50 per cent is biodegradable.
It can be reduced to compost. Almost 45-48 per cent is recyclable and only two to five per cent of it needs to be sent to a dumpyard,” says the 49-year-old. Vice-president of United Federation of Residential Welfare Association which consists of 3,000 members from various apartments and colonies in the city also trains people on solid waste management.
Explaining how it helps in saving the environment he says, “It reduces carbon footprint and also helps in creating organic maure which we use for terrace gardening.” Apart from solid waste management, Major Shiva indicates that it is high time that the denizens start planning for rain water harvesting for this year.
“This will help in increasing ground water level,” he suggests. Everyone knows that using public transport also plays a major role in saving environment but the thought of having a comfortable ride always overpowers the thought of taking a city bus to our destination. He encourages everyone by saying that, “Every citizen should love the thought of being in a clean city.” Even the government should encourage people to take public transport by making sure that buses and the metro that will be functional soon should touch every area in the city, he explains.