Kolkata, Jul 24 (PTI) The West Bengal government on Friday announced a series of measures to modernise urban civic services, including a QR code-based system to identify every household for waste collection, GPS tracking of garbage collection vehicles, seating facilities at ‘Maa Ahar’, and a plan to redistribute surplus food from hotels, restaurants and social events to the needy.
Presenting the proposals during the discussion on the Urban Development and Municipal Affairs budget in the Assembly, department minister Agnimitra Paul said the initiatives were aimed at making municipal services more transparent, technology-driven and citizen-friendly.
“Our goal is to ensure 100 per cent door-to-door waste collection, complete segregation of waste at source, scientific processing of daily waste, elimination of open dumping, and scientific remediation of legacy waste. Technology will help us monitor the entire process in real time and improve service delivery,” Paul said.
Under the proposed system, every household in urban areas will be assigned a unique QR code, while all waste collection vehicles will be fitted with GPS trackers to enable real-time monitoring of collection routes and ensure accountability.
The minister said around 75,000 ‘Nirmal Bandhus’ and 6,000 ‘Nirmal Sathis’ are currently engaged in waste collection and public awareness programmes across urban local bodies. Door-to-door waste collection has already been introduced in most municipal areas, and the government is now targeting 100 per cent segregation of waste at source.
Paul said 16 fresh waste processing plants are currently operational in the state, while 67 more are under construction and are expected to become functional during the 2026-27 financial year. Work on another 32 processing plants will also begin.
She said the government has also drawn up a plan to scientifically clear legacy waste dumps by May 31, 2027, with the objective of reclaiming urban land, reducing pollution and preventing contamination of groundwater.
The minister added that biometric attendance systems, material recovery facilities, decentralised waste processing units, composting facilities, bio-CNG production and circular economy-based waste management practices would be introduced across urban local bodies.
Citizen grievance redressal platforms related to sanitation will also be strengthened to ensure timely disposal of complaints.
Announcing reforms in the state’s subsidised ‘Maa Ahar’, Paul said customers would soon be able to sit and eat at the facilities instead of consuming meals while standing or taking them away.
“People visiting ‘Maa Ahar’ canteens will soon have seating arrangements, just like restaurants, without any increase in the price of meals. We want to make the service more convenient and dignified for everyone,” she said.
The state currently has 390 ‘Maa Ahar’ canteens, where subsidised meals are served.
According to the minister, around 85,000 people avail of the service every day, with nearly 100 canteens located near hospitals.
Paul also announced a food recovery initiative under which surplus food from hotels, restaurants and social functions will be collected, stored through a dedicated cold-chain network, tested for quality by food safety officers, and distributed among economically disadvantaged people.
“Instead of allowing good food to go to waste, we will collect, safely preserve and distribute it among those in need after quality checks. Necessary cold-chain infrastructure will be created for the programme, which will be launched soon,” she said. PTI SCH MNB
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