Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to crack the whip on the housing societies that fail to segregate garbage. Additional municipal commissioner Vijay Singhal said a circular detailing the penalties will be issued on Wednesday.
The civic body had sent a notice to around 4,105 big societies asking them to segregate garbage at source or face punitive action. While 693 societies sought time extension, about 3,030 refused to acknowledge or act upon the notice.
The BMC is likely to invoke the BMC Act and the Mumbai Regional Town Planning Act, which stipulate that societies above 20,000 sq ft of space treat waste on their premises. Such societies are expected to even demarcate space for it, but most of them use the space for other purposes like parking. The BMC had threatened to even disconnect their water and electricity connection.
Many societies say they face practical problems. “Two months ago, we handed over biodegradable bags to flat owners. Our housekeeping staff are empowered to reject non-segregated garbage from flats. This takes care of 90% of our garbage. But the garbage-treating machines cost almost ₹5-10 lakh, and we don’t have space. So we have hired a housekeeping agency that treats garbage outside,” said Amber Sukhi, committee member of Mercury CHS, part of Evershine Millenium Paradise at Kandivli’s Thakur village.
Jigar Tanna, environmentalist and committee member of Borivli’s Town Planning Scheme, said the civil society can no more dump garbage on the BMC. “Citizens must involve in segregation of garbage since our dumping grounds are filled. But, how can the BMC expect us to segregate when it still does not have a mechanism to accept wet and dry garbage? Housing societies on the other hand are reluctant to incur additional costs.”
