The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has decided to appoint a ‘Swachhata Mitra’ in every ward, with nearly half of its bulk waste generators continuing to flout notices and not composting at source. The mitra [friend] will be tasked with finding out why these establishments are not composting, be regularly in touch with them and resolve issues.
In order to enforce waste segregation in housing societies and make them compost wet waste at source, the corporation had last year announced that it would stop collecting wet waste from large housing societies. The provision is applicable to societies with an area of 20,000 sq m or more, or those that generate more than 100 kg of waste every day. Together, they are known as ‘bulk generators’. Altogether 3,374 bulk generators were sent notices, of which 1,476 are processing wet waste within their premises. The BMC has prosecuted the remaining 862 societies and collected fines worth ₹27 lakh so far. The societies are in process of setting up composting units.
Two staffers per ward
Every ward will have two Swachhata Mitras, a junior overseer and assistant head supervisor, who will be responsible for the programme. They will need to contact the establishments, find out why they have not undertaken composting yet, stay in constant contact with them through smartphones and social media, besides inspecting public toilets and submitting reports on their condition.
“We have issued notices and even prosecuted establishments. If they are not complying with rules even now, there might be a practical problem. We are hoping to address those through this,” said a civic officer.
The initiative was announced in Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta’s monthly review meeting, where he instructed officers to ensure nullahs are cleaned from end to end and there are no blockages in storm water drain entrances ahead of the next monsoon.
He also instructed officers to take action against contractors who dig trenches without the necessary barricades and signboards. The meeting mentioned a recent BMC initiative to penalise people who take pets out for a walk in public places. People will have to carry a ‘poop scooper’ from now on, failing which they will be fined ₹500. Before levying penalties, the BMC will undertake an awareness drive.
