BMC to cut off water, power to bulk waste defaulters after Oct 2

The solid waste management (SWM) department officials of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to disconnect the power and water supply of bulk waste defaulters after October 2, 2018.

According to a senior civic official from the SWM department who requested anonymity, the idea of asking bulk waste generators to manage their waste independently had been mooted to reduce the city's waste collection. “Several societies and individuals responded positively, but there are many housing societies, commercial outlets and individual homeowners who have failed to set up composting pits. The BMC will provide a grace period until October 2 and thereafter, action will be initiated,” the official said.

The civic body has imposed a collective fine of Rs15.76 lakh on defaulters and has prosecuted 963 bulk generators from all 24 wards till date. The SWM officials are acting against bulk defaulters under section 368 of Mumbai Municipal Corporation(MMC) Act and under the Maharashtra Regional Town Planning (MRTP) Act, section 53. Under these acts, competent authorities can send a notice, levy a fine, prosecute and warn them to set up the composting pits to the earliest. The SWM of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has a provision under the law to disconnect water and electricity supply of the defaulters who are unable to manage their waste.

The corporation's set directives for bulk generators says that those generating more than 100 kilograms of waste daily or occupying an area more than 20,000 square metres have to adopt a composting mechanism for their waste management. Those failing to adhere to the norms must face stringent action from the BMC, including — no more collection of waste by BMC's workers, a daily fine of Rs100, a fine of Rs 5,000-Rs 50,000 on those who have failed to set up compost pits even after repeated warnings and the filing of a first information report (FIR) against them.

The civic body has claimed that the initiative brought down the city's total waste collection to 7,000 metric tonnes from about 9,500 metric tonnes. When the initiative started, the civic chief Ajoy Mehta had threatened the BMC would not collect waste from those failing to adhere to the norms. Later, Mehta had extended the deadline by three months, on condition that housing societies generating 100kg of waste or more would give a written assurance they would put in waste management measures within the stipulated time.