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By:

Abhijit Mulye

21 August 2024 at 11:29:11 am

Shinde dilutes demand

Likely to be content with Deputy Mayor’s post in Mumbai Mumbai: In a decisive shift that redraws the power dynamics of Maharashtra’s urban politics, the standoff over the prestigious Mumbai Mayor’s post has ended with a strategic compromise. Following days of resort politics and intense backroom negotiations, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena has reportedly diluted its demand for the top job in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), settling instead for the Deputy Mayor’s post. This...

Shinde dilutes demand

Likely to be content with Deputy Mayor’s post in Mumbai Mumbai: In a decisive shift that redraws the power dynamics of Maharashtra’s urban politics, the standoff over the prestigious Mumbai Mayor’s post has ended with a strategic compromise. Following days of resort politics and intense backroom negotiations, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena has reportedly diluted its demand for the top job in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), settling instead for the Deputy Mayor’s post. This development, confirmed by high-ranking party insiders, follows the realization that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) effectively ceded its claims on the Kalyan-Dombivali Municipal Corporation (KDMC) to protect the alliance, facilitating a “Mumbai for BJP, Kalyan for Shinde” power-sharing formula. The compromise marks a complete role reversal between the BJP and the Shiv Sena. Both the political parties were in alliance with each other for over 25 years before 2017 civic polls. Back then the BJP used to get the post of Deputy Mayor while the Shiv Sena always enjoyed the mayor’s position. In 2017 a surging BJP (82 seats) had paused its aggression to support the undivided Shiv Sena (84 seats), preferring to be out of power in the Corporation to keep the saffron alliance intact. Today, the numbers dictate a different reality. In the recently concluded elections BJP emerged as the single largest party in Mumbai with 89 seats, while the Shinde faction secured 29. Although the Shinde faction acted as the “kingmaker”—pushing the alliance past the majority mark of 114—the sheer numerical gap made their claim to the mayor’s post untenable in the long run. KDMC Factor The catalyst for this truce lies 40 kilometers north of Mumbai in Kalyan-Dombivali, a region considered the impregnable fortress of Eknath Shinde and his son, MP Shrikant Shinde. While the BJP performed exceptionally well in KDMC, winning 50 seats compared to the Shinde faction’s 53, the lotter for the reservation of mayor’s post in KDMC turned the tables decisively in favor of Shiv Sena there. In the lottery, the KDMC mayor’ post went to be reserved for the Scheduled Tribe candidate. The BJP doesn’t have any such candidate among elected corporatros in KDMC. This cleared the way for Shiv Sena. Also, the Shiv Sena tied hands with the MNS in the corporation effectively weakening the Shiv Sena (UBT)’s alliance with them. Party insiders suggest that once it became clear the BJP would not pursue the KDMC Mayor’s chair—effectively acknowledging it as Shinde’s fiefdom—he agreed to scale down his demands in the capital. “We have practically no hope of installing a BJP Mayor in Kalyan-Dombivali without shattering the alliance locally,” a Mumbai BJP secretary admitted and added, “Letting the KDMC become Shinde’s home turf is the price for securing the Mumbai Mayor’s bungalow for a BJP corporator for the first time in history.” The formal elections for the Mayoral posts are scheduled for later this month. While the opposition Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA)—led by the Shiv Sena (UBT)—has vowed to field candidates, the arithmetic heavily favors the ruling alliance. For Eknath Shinde, accepting the Deputy Mayor’s post in Mumbai is a tactical retreat. It allows him to consolidate his power in the MMR belt (Thane and Kalyan) while remaining a partner in Mumbai’s governance. For the BJP, this is a crowning moment; after playing second fiddle in the BMC for decades, they are poised to finally install their own “First Citizen” of Mumbai.

Beyond the Bag: Labelling, Sealing, and Storing Waste Right

Segregation is not just about coloured bags—it’s about protecting people, reducing costs, and preserving the planet.

In my last article, I described the colour-coding system that was used for the segregation of biomedical waste. Let us explore this aspect a little further.


Segregation is not just about putting waste in different coloured bags—it’s about ensuring that each step, from labelling to sealing and storage, is handled with care and clarity. This section explains how healthcare facilities can implement segregation practically and the many advantages of doing it right, from safety to sustainability.


Occupiers can procure coloured bags or bins required for segregation directly from the operator of a common facility. These colour-coded bags and containers should be printed with the biohazard symbol and labelled with details such as date, type of waste, waste quantity, sender's name, and receiver's details, as well as barcode labels so that they can be tracked till final disposal.


These bags and sharps containers should be sealed and kept ready for collection once they are filled up to three-quarters of their capacity. These plastic bags should never be stapled but may be tied or sealed with a plastic tag or tie. Replacement bags or containers should be available at each waste-collection location so that once a bag is filled to its desired capacity, it can be readily replaced by a new one. In healthcare establishments, the segregation process is handled mostly by the housekeeping staff. Many of these waste handlers are uneducated and may not be able to read the instructions regarding segregation. For this, the CPCB has published a pictorial guide in which there are interactive, colourful posters displaying the process of segregation.


Advantages of segregation: Implementing a robust segregation programme is crucial for any healthcare facility aiming to manage its waste responsibly and effectively. Mixing the waste at the source of generation can have an adverse effect on the treatment process.


1. Enhanced Safety:

Reduces Occupational Hazards: Segregation minimises the risk of injury to healthcare workers and waste handlers from sharps (needles, etc.) and infectious materials.


Prevents Cross-Contamination: Proper segregation prevents the mixing of infectious waste with general waste, reducing the risk of disease transmission.


Improved Infection Control: By separating waste streams, healthcare facilities can implement more effective infection control measures, protecting patients, staff, and visitors from ‘nosocomial’ or ‘hospital-acquired’ infections.


1. Reduced Treatment Costs:

Each of the four categories of biomedical waste requires specific treatment because of its varied composition before disposal. Segregation ensures that only truly hazardous and infectious waste will be treated with specialised and often costly methods, reducing overall treatment costs.


Optimises Resource Allocation: By streamlining waste management processes, segregation allows for more efficient use of resources and potentially reduces waste disposal expenses.


2. Environmental Protection:

Prevents Environmental Pollution: Proper segregation prevents hazardous materials from contaminating soil and water sources, protecting the environment.


Promotes Recycling: Segregation enables the recycling of certain materials, reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills and conserving natural resources.


Reduces Landfill Volume: By segregating non-hazardous waste for recycling and composting, the volume of waste going to landfills is reduced.


3. Legal Compliance:

Adherence to Regulations: Effective segregation is often a requirement of national and international regulations for biomedical waste management, helping healthcare facilities avoid legal penalties.


Improved Reputation: Demonstrating a commitment to proper waste management through segregation can enhance a healthcare facility's reputation.


4. Promoting Sustainability:

Resource Conservation: Segregation facilitates the recycling and reuse of materials, promoting resource conservation and reducing the environmental footprint of healthcare facilities.


Reduced Carbon Footprint: By optimising waste management processes and promoting recycling, segregation contributes to a more sustainable healthcare system.


Proper segregation is the foundation of safe and sustainable biomedical waste management. It protects people, reduces treatment costs, and helps safeguard the environment, making it an essential practice for every healthcare facility.


(The author is an environmentalist.)

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