From July, failure to segregate waste could invite prosecution BMC To Enforce 100% Separation Of Wet & Dry Waste

    In an unprecendented attempt to enforce 100% door-to-door segregation and collection of waste, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to aggressively prosecute defaulters. Other than a fine of up to Rs 50,000, the punishment for repeated non-compliance could even include imprisonment for office-bearers of the defaulting society or the flat owners. Jail term would be decided by court. 

    The civic authority will make segregation of dry and wet waste at source compulsory from July. The circular, issued by deputy municipal commissioner (solid waste management) Prakash Patil, states that by July, the BMC will make available all the infrastructure needed for the initiative. It will purchase additional collection compactors and upgrade segregation centres. The BMC will stop accepting mixed waste. 
    The civic body will issue a notice to any society that fails to segregate waste and initiate prosecution proceedings in accordance with the Municipal Solid Waste Rules 2000. 
    There is a provision for a minimum penalty of Rs 1,000. The society will be given a notice period of 30 days before it is fined. If a society fails to comply with the rules after three notices, the BMC could file a case in a metropolitan court. 
    Civic officials added that societies will be sent a special notice listing guidelines on how to go about segregating waste. They will be allowed to engage a rag-picker for their dry waste; this could earn them revenue. In case a society cannot find a rag-picker on its own, the BMC will give it a list of NGOs in an area and the society can choose from them. 
    Currently, the BMC collects door-todoor waste from 30-40% households; less than 2% waste is being segregated. 
    This time, the BMC will have to meet the target as it is one of the service level benchmarks prescribed by the Union ministry of urban development. Failure will make the BMC ineligible for Central funds under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Renewal Mission (JNNURM). The 100% collection has to be achieved by March 2014 and segregation by 2015. 
    Similar initiatives were undertaken earlier but due to lack of infrastructure for collection, transportation and disposal, the practice did not take off.