GHMC ruffled some feathers when its officials went ahead and sealed popular restaurant Bawarchi here on Monday, for not installing a compost pit as mandated under the Solid Waste Management rules.

Following instructions from GHMC Commissioner M. Dana Kishore, circle level officials of the corporation also conducted surprise inspections on multiple hotels and restaurants in the city, and levied heavy penalty for violation of rules.

Apart from Bawarchi, Sahara Cafe & Restaurant in Nizampet was also sealed for non-maintenance of standards of hygiene in the kitchen. Devi Grand hotel in Musapet Circle was slapped with a penalty of ₹30,100 for unhygienic conditions, using uncertified meat, and dumping of waste in the drainage manholes.

Tripura Bar & Restaurant in Kukatpally had to cough up a penalty of ₹20,000 for dumping waste into the drains and not building silt chambers.

Waste management rules

As per the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, establishments producing more than 50 kg of waste are categorised as bulk garbage generators, and are required to install compost units to process the wet garbage within the premises.

For starters, GHMC has enhanced the limit to 100 kg and issued notices to all the establishments producing more garbage than that for installation of compost pits.

Additional Commissioner-Sanitation N. Ravi Kiran said 270 establishments, including hotels, restaurants, and function halls, in the city generating more than 100 kg of waste have been issued notices for not installing compost pits.

Meetings have been conducted with the bulk garbage generators to spread awareness about the SWM rules, and peaceful protests too were conducted by GHMC staff in the name of ‘Gandhigiri’. An exhibition displaying composting equipment was also conducted for them.

Close to 100 of the identified establishments have complied with the rules so far, Mr. Ravi Kiran said.