MBMC to bring back mini 'bell' garbage vans

Waste transfer stations to also be developed to aid disposal process

The Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) is all set to reintroduce the bell garbage van (ghanta-gaadi) collection system in the twin-city after nearly a decade.

Vehicles deployed by private contractors are unable to collect garbage from several housing societies due to narrow roads and by-lanes in some areas. As a result, the conservancy workers are left with no other option but to ferry garbage bins to the main road on hand carts, which leaves a stinking trail of filth and leachate water on the roads. To overcome this problem, the civic administration is collecting data on such roads to get an idea about the number of mini garbage vans needed.

Fitted with bells or public announcement systems, the mini vans will move around the Mira-Bhayandar region as per a fixed area-wise timetable. The MBMC will also set up three waste transfer stations at strategic locations where garbage collected by small vans will be transferred into the larger ones to be taken to the disposal plant.

The mini garbage van purchase plan will be incorporated in the Rs 18 crore project chalked out by the MBMC for the efficient disposal of garbage and door-to-door waste collection. The project envisages the induction of 117 vehicles,

including 33 refuse compactors and 84 covered trucks in the civic body’s own fleet for garbage transportation, under the Swachh Bharat Funds as additional resources to strengthen cleanliness.

Two years ago, the government allotted Rs 42 crore for the MBMC to upgrade its waste management mechanism. However, a major part of the funds is yet to be released. Apart from 8-10 tonnes of industrial and bio-medical waste, the twin-city generates around 550 metric tonnes of garbage every day.