Office bearers of housing societies and bulk generators that do not segregate garbage and compost it on-site could face legal action, including a prison term of up to three years and fine ranging from Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has identified at least 26 housing societies in Mumbai where the change of use of land was found. These housing societies have violated the Mumbai Regional and Town Planning Act (MRTP) 1966, by failing to set up vermicomposting facilities within the society premises and have, instead, used the designated place meant for vermicomposting for other purposes.
According to an official from the SWM, the maximum violators have been found in D Ward, which covers areas like Grant Road, Malabar Hill, and Nana Chowk, and H West ward includes areas like Bandra West and Khar west. "In these two wards, at least 10 housing societies were found violating the MRTP Act," said the senior civic official.
He added that from Tuesday, the BMC would start filing FIR against the office bearers of these housing societies. "We had asked all 24 assistant commissioner to visit each and every bulk generator in their respective areas and check who have not started vermicomposting and whether they are following the MRTP Act," said the official.
Housing societies and bulk generators, who have been issued Intimation of Disapproval (IoD) and Commencement Certificates (CC) since 2007, are supposed to have a dedicated waste treatment facility, as per BMC's orders.
As per the MRTP Act 1966, since 2007, all Intent of Disapproval (IoD) and Commencement of Certificates (CC) were granted with the provision of a vermicomposting pit or an area demarcated for processing of municipal solid waste (MSW) within the building premises.
If the ward officials find that vermicomposting pit is not found, or the place is being used for other purposes such as parking, action can be initiated against the society or commercial units under the MRTP Act as well as the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act 1888.
Under the act, office bearers of housing societies and bulk generators that do not segregate garbage and compost it on-site could face legal action, including a prison term of up to three years and fine ranging from Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000.
In the second week of October, the BMC administration had also sent out a circular to Assistant Commissioners of all wards to prepare a list of willful violators within 15 days and submit it for further action. Earlier, Vijay Singhal, additional municipal commissioner (Eastern Suburbs), in charge of the Solid Waste Management department, said, that the willful violators would not be spared.
The BMC had initially set a deadline of October 2 for mandatory waste segregation and composting by housing societies and bulk generators. With apprehensions voiced by housing societies on meeting the deadline due to lack of space for composting, the civic body had given an extension of three months, provided societies submit a detailed plan to the corporation.
UNDER THE ACT
- Office bearers of housing societies and bulk generators that do not segregate garbage and compost it on-site could face legal action, including a prison term of up to three years and fine ranging from Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000.
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