It's a tough challenge but BMC will serve people

Mohan Adtani, additional municipal commissioner of BMC, started his career as deputy collector and was promoted to IAS in 1993. He took over in BMC in 2010 at a time the city needed a lot of effort in the fields of education, solid waste management, illegal hawkers and a strong hoarding and licence policy. In an interview with dna, he talks of challenges before the city.

What are the challenges for a bureaucrat at such an important position?
On most counts we are always 99% efficient. But for that 1%, it's a crime. Imagine the task of bringing water to the city from a place, hundreds of kilometres away from the city. Similarly, imagine lifting 7,000 metric tonnes of garbage and 3,000 tonnes of other waste from the city thrice a day. But we will continue to serve people.

What future plans does BMC have for better garbage disposal?
When I joined BMC in 2010, already some projects had been awarded. The contractor was expected to process garbage with latest technology. Composting, bio-reactor and bio-methane plants were the technology used. But we realised that we have to use expandable modules with highly upgraded technologies which will not only help dispose garbage but will also earn revenue and respect on the international map. So, BMC had to step up to waste -to-energy module.

Segregation of dry and wet garbage in housing societies is proving a flop as BMC has no system to manage it.
Yes, we cannot enforce the bye-laws in housing societies, even as it has been imposed. We cannot impose since we don't have facility to keep segregated garbage and put dry garbage to use. However, garbage like newspaper waste, plastic bottles, thick plastic bags are picked up by rag-pickers or sweepers if it's not sold to scrap dealers. This is a form of segregation in itself. Our half work is already done. Gradually, we will implement bye-laws more seriously and stringently since we have appointed agencies and increased the number of collection centres for dry garbage.

How does BMC expect to generate energy?
Yes, that part is a point to worry since quality of garbage in the city is too poor. Thin plastic is a major cause for concern. While international standards of generating energy from waste is 1.5 or 1.6 MW per 100 tonnes of garbage, in Mumbai it will be 1 MW per 100 tonnes. The reason is that in Mumbai garbage having calorific value – like newspaper waste, plastic bottles, thick plastic bags – does not come to dumping ground.

State of civic schools is pathetic. How do you plan to upgrade the level?
Everyone wants their children to study in English-medium schools. It was inevitable for us to push our boundaries and introduce English-medium schools. While 80 such schools are running successfully, we started semi-English schools in 2012–13. In 2013–14, this pattern was introduced in 170 of 1,200 civic-run schools. I don't have English-efficient teachers. Last year's results were overwhelming as number of students has gone up.

How will you make your teachers English efficient?
Three months back we entered in MOU with British Council. They have developed methods for teaching.

What about quality of education?
Schools run better in privately managed trust because parents are supportive and they demand quality. They are ready to add value to the school's operations, but we have parents mostly from slums. They barely take interest in school functioning.

We have decided that local NGOs will be on the school management committee so that they can make parents aware of their child's education.

What impact your new hoarding policy has in a city where there is no fear of BMC among politicos?
We have asked the assistant commissioner to lodge a police complaint against the politicians with specific names. No new permissions on terraces, rooftop only till 30 years age of the buildings. This will already reduce 60 to 70 percent other existing hoardings. On ground level, between two hoardings 100 meters space has to be maintained as against 20 meters as per the earlier policy.

How will you deal with illegal hawkers who have taken help of apex court judgement?
We have to respect the Supreme Court order. However, we have rights to take action if hawkers violate civic rules.