Mumbai: The BMC’s Solid Waste Management (SWM) department has gone back on its decision to not collect waste from bulk generators who produce 100 kgs and above of garbage after October 2 set deadline. After receiving flak from Shiv Sena and other parties, BMC chief Ajoy Mehta stated that an extension of three months would be given to those who give in writing about the status-quo of waste composting. Though the BMC hasn’t received any application in this regard yet, they have decided to continue the waste collection.
A senior civic officer from the BMC stated that many housing societies are yet to start composting, but BMC officers are monitoring all listed bulk generators in their ward. He added, “Due to three consecutive public holidays of Dussera, Sunday and Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary, they (bulk generators) are coming to BMC at last moment for an extension. Hence, all letters seeking extension would surely come on Wednesday. Therefore, the BMC would continue to collect waste.”
He further stated that a few days are left for Diwali festival to start. And during Diwali, everybody cleans their house. Hence, there is 20 per cent increase in city waste every year. So if BMC discontinues waste collection just because no letters were received then the streets of Mumbai would become filthy and would create health problems.
