The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is trying hard for all housing societies and commercial complexes who are bulk generators of garbage to enforce municipal solid waste management rules.
However, even four months after the deadline for compulsory waste segregation, only 31 per cent of bulk generators have started processing their waste.
There are total 3,365 bulk generators of garbage in Mumbai, of which only 1,064 have complied to the notices. BMC officials blame it on unawareness. While the house helps are unaware about the importance of segregation in middle class societies for the rich processing waste is not a priority at all.
The municipal commissioner had announced on July 1, 2017, that all bulk generators of garbage will have to compulsorily segregate waste in to wet and dry and compost the wet waste in the society premises itself. Accordingly, the BMC had issued notices to societies and the deadline given was January 2. After that the ward offices started taking strict actions against the defaulters, which included prosecution and depositing fine in the civil court.
A BMC report, which is in possession of DNA, as of May 4, 2018, out of 3,232 notices issued under MMC Act, only 1,189 societies have been fined. While only 1,017 notices complied, 576 societies across the city have requested the BMC ward offices for and extension of the deadline. The BMC, till now, has collected Rs 2.92 lakh from the ones prosecuted and 368 cases are still in court.
Speaking to DNA, the civic officials said, "The places reserved for composting at the time when the building permissions are given are now allotted for parking or have been converted into a sitting area or a garden. The big societies consider wet garbage as filth and show no interest in composting it. It is only when we send prosecution notices that they comply to the norms."
"We will continue our stringent actions and inspections till these waste segregation rules are not followed," the official added.
APPALING NUMBERS
- A BMC report, which is in possession of DNA, says that as of May 4, 2018, out of 3,232 notices issued under the MMC Act, only 1,189 societies have been fined so far. 368 cases are currently in court
- While only 1,017 notices complied, 576 societies have requested for an extension of the deadline. The BMC, till now, has collected Rs 2.92 lakh from the ones prosecuted
