NMC firm on not lifting non-segregated garbage, to levy fine for dumping in public places

Nagpur: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) is firm on its decision for not lifting non-segregated garbage from households and commercial establishments from December 16. However, NGOs have doubts over the success of NMC’s plans citing lack of proper preparations.
“Garbage will not be collected from households if wet and dry waste is not given separately from December 16. We will keep a strict vigil in all areas to prevent people from dumping garbage on roadsides or in public places. We have engaged a team which has started keeping a watch through CCTVs installed across the city. We have also engaged a nuisance detection squad (NDS) and employees of the health department. A fine of Rs 500-1,000 will be collected from individuals and Rs 5,000 from establishments if they are found dumping garbage,” said NMC additional municipal commissioner Ram Joshi and in-charge of solid waste management Dr Gajendra Mahalle.
A partition has been made in around 400 vehicles for storing and transporting segregated garbage. Meanwhile, NGOs have expressed doubts over NMC’s preparedness.
Gargi Vairagare from NGO Rising Infinitely For Social Empowerment (RISE) has slammed the move. “Collection and transportation of segregated garbage is the need of the hour but the NMC lacks a proper mechanism to monitor it and make it a success. The state government had on October 7 issued a notification directing the urban local bodies to develop an ICT-based monitoring system.
“NMC will need to establish a centralized system and paste QR code stickers at houses and commercial establishments. To get the exact status of the garbage scenario in the city, workers will have to scan gates as well as the two dustbins. NMC’s smart city SPV has funds for IT-based systems but nothing is being done. Such use of technology will compel people to segregate waste and help the NMC to monitor its agencies,” she said.
Leena Buddhe from NGO Centre for Sustainable Development said, “NMC does not have a system for dumping garbage in a segregated manner at the dumping yard. NMC does not even have processing plants. Therefore, this drive will not serve any purpose.”
The activist feels that a scientific method is the solution. “The NMC should promote utilization of wet waste in households itself and tie-up with ragpickers and scrap vendors to collect it. This will ensure scientific disposal of garbage and also save crores of rupees spent on collection and transportation of garbage from the city to the dumping yard. Also, it will prevent pollution eminating from the dump yard,” she said.