A recent circular issued by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, that has issued a few guidelines on the formation of ALMs (advanced locality management), has irked citizens groups and city activists. As per the circular, the main purpose of ALMs is segregation of waste and ensuring zero garbage at their areas. "Only those ALMs which segregate waste at source should be registered at the ward level and be issued identity cards," the circular dated January 19, 2015, stated.
A recent circular issued by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, that has issued a few guidelines on the formation of ALMs (advanced locality management), has irked citizens groups and city activists. As per the circular, the main purpose of ALMs is segregation of waste and ensuring zero garbage at their areas. "Only those ALMs which segregate waste at source should be registered at the ward level and be issued identity cards," the circular dated January 19, 2015, stated.
It further stated that only such ALMs who are segregating waste and supporting the BMC in reducing waste should be called for bi-monthly meeting with the assistant commissioner of the respective ward.
The new guidelines have not gone down well with ALMs who say that they play a major role in highlighting many other civic issues. Representatives of about four such citizens' associations came to meet additional municipal commissioner Pallavi Darade on Monday to voice their protests against the new guidelines.
GR Vora of F north ward Citizens' Federation said that the circular goes against the actual ALM guidelines. "As ALMs, we are supposed to bring various civic issues to the notice of the BMC. Waste segregation is just a part of it," said Vora.
Vora added that he is not sure if the citizens' meeting with Darade will yield any result. "She was non-committal on the issue and said she will look into it," Vora said.
Aftab Siddiqui of ALM 144 from the H west ward, covering Bandra, Khar and Santacruz, said ALMs have been instrumental in regularly highlighting the different civic issues to the BMC, such as those of unauthorised hawkers, illegal construction, illegal Banners and water problems in their jurisdictions.
"Does the circular mean that the nearly 150 ALMs in the H west ward will be de-recognised if they don't segregate waste. We cooperate with the BMC and highlight several important issues to the authorities every day. Why do they want to keep us away from that?" asked Siddiqui.
Siddiqui said for the last two years, H west ward ALMs have been asking about Power Point presentation of all the steps taken by the civic authorities on garbage. "We are yet to get a response on that," she said.
The circular stated that sectional junior officer of every ward should inspect these ALMs at least once a month, and inspect if each ALM is carrying out waste segregation. It also stated that the zonal deputy municipal commissioner has the right to deregister those ALMs which are not carrying out waste segregation at source, as per the JO's report.
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