BMC makes segregation of garbage a must for societies

Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Friday gave its nod to the proposal making garbage segregation mandatory for all existing residential and commercial societies. The decision came in the wake of orders from Bombay high court and the state government to make provisions for waste segregation at source, recycling of dry waste, and composting of wet waste. 

The proposal seeks to include compulsory garbage segregation in the present Development Control Regulations of the Development Plan 1991. However, the civic body does not have punitive measures in place to ensure that rules are followed, making the proposal toothless.

Deputy municipal commissioner (DMC), solid waste management department, Vijay Balamwar, said, “As of now, there is no way we can fine housing societies for non-compliance. According to bylaws, we can enforce it, with imposing a monetary penalty.”

According to the proposal, all small housing societies will have to process their wet waste within their compounds. All other housing societies with an area exceeding 20,000 square metres will have to install a waste processing unit in their compounds. The proposal making waste segregation mandatory in existing residential and commercial buildings was passed in the BMC’s improvement committee earlier this week. The proposal will now be tabled in the BMC’s general body meeting. If it is cleared there, it will go to the state government for its approval, and will then be added to the DCR 1991.