Impact of the Kerala Solid Waste Management Project (KSWMP) On Urban Cleanliness and Sustanability in Kerala with Special Reference to Thiruvanathapuram District

Abstract

The increasing problem associated with solid waste management has emerged as a serious challenge due to rapid urbanization and growing consumption. Kerala State Government had formulated an important scheme called as Kerala Solid Waste Management Project (KSWMP) to make improvement in waste management and maintain urban cleanliness and sustainability. The present research aims at assessing the effectiveness of KSWMP on urban cleanliness and sustainability in Kerala State with reference to Thiruvananthapuram District. This paper was written adopting a descriptive research methodology. Primary data were collected using a structured questionnaire among 170 respondents while secondary data were gathered from KSWMP reports, government publications, journal articles, and official website sources. The data have been analyzed applying percentage and Chi-square tests. Results show that the majority of the respondents believe that KSWMP has been successful in improving urban cleanliness due to efficient waste collection, segregation, recycling, and scientific disposal. In addition, it can be seen from the results that KSWMP has made contribution towards promoting environmental sustainability by decreasing pollution levels and increasing resource recovery. Moreover, there was also an evident amount of involvement and awareness among the general public regarding waste management processes. Nevertheless, problems like non-cooperation among the people, lack of awareness, and lack of infrastructure still persist in the effective execution of the project. The study finds that KSWMP has been extremely instrumental in ensuring sustainable waste management practices in the district of Thiruvananthapuram