© 2018 IJRAR January 2019, Volume 06, Issue 1 www.ijrar.org (E-ISSN 2348-1269, P- ISSN 2349-5138) IJRAR19J1298 International Journal of Research and Analytical Reviews (IJRAR) www.ijrar.org 1232 ASSESSMENT OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT STATUS FOR TWO MAJOR TOWNS OF DISTRICT NAINITAL 1 Amit Dumka, 2 Dr.Preeti Khanduri 1 Dy.Manager (E. T & IT), Government Medical College, Haldwani (Nainital) Uttarakhand, India 2 Assistant Professor, Department of Botany, Dr.P.D.B.H. Government P.G.College, Kotdwara (Pauri Garhwal) UTTARAKHAND, India Introduction: Every human habitation and activity generates waste but its magnitude and composition may differ based on the lifestyle and urbanization of population which is changing with very high rate. India with population of 1.21 billion stands at second position among all nations in terms of population and is 7 th in rank in terms of area. The country homes 18% of world population, but land is limited and the population growth is continuous with continuous development of economy, urbanization and life style changes which causes changes in waste generated by people. Urban development and Ministry of environment & Forest, Government of India states that present speed of urbanization will result in increase of urban population upto 41% of total population of the country by 2021. This change in urban population results in ever-increasing challenges in municipal solid waste management. As per CPCB report it is estimated that by 2047, per capita waste generated will be more than 945gm as against 490 gm which occurs presently (CPCB 2000a). SWM (Solid Waste Management) is one of those services where India needs to fulfill a large gap in the system. This essential service if not efficiently performed by the municipal bodies will result in health problems of sanitation and environmental degradation. Inefficient SWM service causes deterioration of public health, environmental pollution, natural resources degradation, climate change and the deterioration in quality of life of the citizens. The present study is carried out to understand the current scenario of waste management status of two major towns of district Nainital (Uttarakhand) namely Nainital and Haldwani. Methodology: Reconnaissance survey of Nainital and Haldwani was done to gain the knowledge of the characteristics and composition of the wastes produced in the two cities and the issues associated with their management. Structured questions were used to obtain primary data from a random size of population in the selective areas. Lot of work has been done in the field of Solid Waste Management across the globe and even in India but there is absence of any such research on the Municipal Solid Waste Management of Nainital and Haldwani. Nainital and Haldwani are the two important towns of District Nainital, Uttarakhand, India. Nainital is located at 29.38°N 79.45°E. The slopes of the nearby mountains are most populated, with an elevation ranging from 1,940–2,100 m (6,360–6,890 ft). Nainital is a popular hill station of Uttarakhand and is located in the Kumaon foothills of the outer Himalayas. It is the administrative headquarter of Nainital district, with a population around 41,377as per 2011 census report. Nainital is set in a valley containing a pear-shaped lake, approximately two miles in circumference, and surrounded by mountains, of which the highest are Naina (2,615 m (8,579 ft)) on the north, Deopatha (2,438 m (7,999 ft)) on the west, and Ayarpatha (2,278 m (7,474 ft)) on the south. The town is having some major institutions and is the educational hub of Uttarakhand. There are at present 13 wards and 10 slums in Nainital municipality area (Table 1). Table 1: Slum Population in Nainital. S. No. Name of Slum Areas Population (Approx) 1 Narayan nagar 1947 2 HariNagar- Tallital 1200 3 NLRSADA line- Mallital 960 4 Committee line 750 5 Bakery compound 650 6 Kathbans 90 7 Bray Side- Mallital 1360