The softening of this stand on Monday comes as major respite to housing societies who had raised concerns about lack of space in their premises and funds for composting
With apprehensions raised by housing societies on whether they would be able to meet the October 2 deadline set by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for mandatory waste segregation and composting in their premises, the civic body on Monday said it would give societies leeway of three months to start the waste management at source, provided they submit a detailed plan to the corporation.
The BMC had earlier maintained that from October 2, it will stop collecting garbage from housing societies and bulk generators unless they segregate waster and compost wet waste in their premises. The softening of this stand on Monday comes as major respite to housing societies who had raised concerns about lack of space in their premises and funds for composting.
Now, the civic administration will bring an amended circular which will allow housing societies to submit a plan on how they will start composting. Meanwhile, the BMC will continue to collect garbage from societies.
At a meeting called by Mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar on Monday evening, BMC chief Ajoy Mehta assured him and the group of leaders of the BMC that the civic body would help housing societies with space and funds for waste management.
The meeting was prompted by ruckus during the general body meeting earlier in the day, when agitated members slammed the civic administration for not consulting them before issuing a circular that made it mandatory for housing societies generating over 100 kg waste in the city to start waste segregation and wet waste composting from October 2. The general body meeting had to be adjourned after BJP and Congress members staged a walkout.
Now, housing societies have to submit in writing to the BMC their plan of waste management at source within three months. "The housing societies can submit their plan within three months, giving details of their plan," said Yashwant Jadhav, a Shiv Sena corporator and leader of House at BMC. He added that while submitting their plan, the housing societies can seek another three months to implement their plan.
In the proposed amended circular, there will be provision for corporators to help housing societies in generating funds and finding place for composting. However, there will be no assistance provided to hotels, malls, restaurants and commercial units in finding space for composting.
Congress corporator and leader of opposition in the BMC, Ravi Raja, who opposed the circular during the general body meeting, said that civic administration cannot force residents to segregate waste and compost. "Lifting of waste and managing it is an obligatory duty of BMC which is clearly mention in the section 61 (c) of Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act 1888," said Raja.
BJP group leader Manoj Kotak said that the civic body was itself not following what it has been asking residents to do. "In 2014, I had raised the issue. Unfortunately, the civic administration had done nothing and has placed the onus of waste management on residents," said Kotak.
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