BMC disqualifies 209 ALMs for failing to ensure waste segregation, disposal

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has de-registered 209 advance locality management (ALM) groups in the city for failing to carry out waste segregation and disposal in their areas. Officials of the Solid Waste Management (SWM) department said the civic body had received a lot of complaints from people about ALMs not being active in their areas.

According to SWM officials, more than 7,000 buildings in the city are affiliated with 719 ALMs, which are registered with the BMC. However, ALMs at only 30 places have been found carrying out waste segregation and composting projects in their areas as directed by the BMC.

“We have found that these ALMs are not taking interest in the waste segregation and composting programme, hence a decision to de-register was taken. Following this, steps will be taken soon to appoint new ALMs,” said a senior official from the SWM department.

In view of SWM rules 2016, Environment Impact Assessment Notification and IOD conditions post 2007, prerequisite qualification for ALM shall also include processing/composting of wet waste at source. According to deputy municipal commissioner, SWM, Vijay Balamwar, the role of ALMs was reviewed by assistant commissioners (wards) throughout the month of October. The ward officers have submitted their respective reports. “These reports have pointed out that of the 719 ALMs, 456 have been active, of which 265 have been carrying out waste segregation and disposal. Of these 265, 145 ALMs have been carrying out the waste segregation successfully, while work of 120 others towards waste segregation was not too satisfactory. Of the 120, performance of 18 ALMs towards waste segregation was found to be dissatisfactory,” said Balamwar.

The performance of 102 remaining non-active ALMs has been reviewed closely, and if they are found flouting the civic body’s directions on waste segregation, they too will be deregistered soon, he added.

Elaborating on 145 active ALMs, Balamwar further said that the majority of these ALMs are in H-West (Bandra) ward with 38 active ALMs. Followed by K-West (Andheri, Vile Parle) ward with 19, M West (chembur) ward with 12, R South (Borivali) ward with 11 and F south (Parel) with 10 active ALMs.

The ALMs are the citizen groups comprising housing societies that work in their concerned areas to create awareness on civic issues. According to civic officials, there are 719 ALMs registered with the BMC in 24 administrative wards. The ALM concept was promoted by the BMC since November 1997 to include residents in cleanliness-related issues. According BMC officials, one of the prerequisites for formation of the ALM was segregation of garbage at source.