Mumbai: Waste management at western suburbs gets thumbs down for poor implementation

Waste management at source appears to have been implemented poorly in the western suburbs. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had issued notices against 450 housing as well as commercial complexes in Santa Cruz, Andheri, Andheri (west), Juhu, Lokhandwala, and Malad establishments, however, did not initiate action.

The Solid Waste Management (SWM) department of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has asked the concerned ward offices to initiate action against these establishments to ensure waste processing within premises. The civic body is pushing waste management at source as its dumping ground has been exhausted to capacity.

As per the report on waste processing at source till August 31, the BMC had issued notice against 3117 establishments across Mumbai under Section 368 of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation (MMC) Act. Maximum waste generators have been identified in Andheri area.

Of 3117 establishments against which notices have been issued, 1221 establishments complied while 311 establishments sought time extension.

The civic body had also initiated prosecution against 818 establishments and collected fine around Rs 20.24 lakh for violation.

However, there are around 690 establishments across the city against whom no action has been initiated despite issuing a notice. Of these 690 establishments, 237 establishments are from Andheri (west), Juhu and Lokhandwala.

Even the civic body issued a notice under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MR&TP) Act against 285 establishments and action against 70 is still pending. Shockingly, there are 61 establishments alone in Andheri (west), Juhu and Lokhandwala areas.

A senior official said that around 250 to 300 metric tonnes of garbage is being processed within building premises. "In the last six months, many establishments have started waste processing at the source and we are expecting more premises to join soon," said a senior official from the SWM department. He added that some housing societies have genuine problems like space and fund crunch.

At present, around 7200 metric tonnes of garbage is generated every day in the city. Kanjurmarg is the top garbage generator producing 5000 metric tonnes. It is followed by Mulund and Deonar. However, the Mulund dumping where around 1500 metric tonnes garbage is dumped, will be closed from October.