Trash talk: BMC to sort out issues of hsg societies

MUMBAI: After a majority of bulk generators failed to segregate and process waste, civic chief Ajoy Mehta has asked seven zonal deputy municipal commissioners to address their problems in complying with the rules.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) made it mandatory for bulk generators to segregate and process waste six months ago. Since then, it has sent 962 prosecution notices to housing societies and commercial establishments for not setting up wet garbage processing units on their premises. After its order last year, the BMC identified 3,365 bulk waste generators. “BMC wants to achieve 100% compliance from bulk generators. Through talks and presentations, we are hoping that more citizens will get involved,” said Kiran Dighavkar, nodal officer, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

Members of the erring societies and the establishments have been booked under section 53(1) of the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act. They face a maximum of two years in jail or a ₹5,000-fine. The offence is bailable.

According to BMC, 567 court cases have been filed, of which 352 are still pending. The highest

number of the pending court cases is from Bhandup.

Under section 368 of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, BMC stopped collecting wet waste from housing societies and establishments that generate more than 100 kg waste daily or have an area of more than 20,000 square metres. Of the 3,365 bulk generators, 1,159 are segregating and processing waste, while 270 have been given extension to get their act together.

Initially, BMC had set a deadline of October 2 to enforce the rules. After protests and

requests from several quarters seeking more time to create processing facilities, it had extended the deadline to January 3, 2018. With this rule, BMC aims to reduce the amount of garbage transported to three dumping grounds in the city at Deonar, Mulund and Kanjurmarg.

After the new rule, BMC has recorded a drop in the amount of waste sent to dumping grounds from 9,600 metric tonnes daily to 7,100 metric tonnes daily. The civic body further aims to brings down the number to 6,000 metric tonnes daily.

JAM DELAYS RESCUE, ROAD TO BE WIDENED

As the NDRF team was en route Ambenali ghat on Saturday to carry out the rescue mission, it was stuck in traffic congestion for