Mumbai civic body files 18 FIRs against housing societies for not processing waste

Nearly four months after it was made mandatory to segregate and process waste, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has begun action against bulk generators. The civic body has filed 18 first information reports (FIR) against housing societies and commercial establishments for violating rules and not setting up wet garbage processing units on their premises. It has also sent prosecution notices for non- compliance to 1,317 bulk generators across the city this year.

Members of the societies and the establishments concerned have been booked under section 53(1) of the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) Act. They face a maximum of two years jail or Rs5,000 fine. The offence is bailable. As per the BMC’s data, 16 FIRs have been lodged under the MRTP, with the highest in Chembur (five).

A total 3,365 bulk generators were identified by the BMC after its order last year. Under section 368 of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, the civic body stopped collecting wet waste from housing societies and establishments that generate more than 100kg waste daily or have an area of more than 20,000 square metres. Out of the 3,365 bulk generators, 1,064 are segregating and processing waste, while 676 have sought extension from the BMC.

Initially, the BMC had set a deadline of October 2 to enforce the rules, but after protests and requests from several quarters seeking more time to create processing facilities, it had extended the deadline to January 3, 2018. A civic official from the solid waste management said, “BMC has sent intimations through notices to set up processing plants to housing societies and establishments. Legal actions are initiated only against those who failed to submit a plan or reply to notices.”

By making segregation and processing of waste mandatory, the BMC aims to reduce the amount of garbage transported to three dumping grounds in the city at Deonar, Mulund and Kanjurmarg. After implementing the new rule, the civic body has recorded a drop in the amount of waste sent to dumping grounds from 9,600 metric tonnes daily to 7,100 metric tonnes every day. The BMC further aims to reduce the waste transported to 6,000 metric tonnes daily.