Highlights
- 60% residents of Navi Mumbai segregate waste at present
- Composting has been mandatory in 500 societies of Navi Mumbai
- Navi Mumbai aims to achieve 100% source segregation by March 2018
New Delhi: Come November 15 and the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) will not collect garbage from bulk waste generators if they do not segregate waste and compost the wet garbage. Around 500 bulk generators including societies, commercial establishments and hotels generating more than 100 kilos of waste have been notified by the civic body. Taking an inspiration from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the municipal corporation aims to achieve 100 per cent source segregation by early next year.
Talking to NDTV Tushar Pawar, Deputy Commissioner, Solid Waste Management, NMMC says,
Like BMC, we plan to bridge the gap between the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules 2016 and its execution by imposing a rather strict guideline. In accordance with the SWM rules 2016, which specifies mandatory waste segregation, we have directed all the civic workers to not pick up garbage generated by bulk generators if it is not separated into dry and wet waste and if they do not start practicing composting. Notices to organisations and societies have been sent giving them a deadline of mid-November post which the rule will be implemented.
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While some societies have welcomed this new rule with a positive response, some buildings are skeptical about it. Many societies have claimed that they do not generate enough waste to put it into composting machines, “There are buildings whose flats are empty and hence the number doesn’t reach the requirement. Some societies have listed space crunch as an issue. We have taken up both the matters and are in the process of resolving them,” adds Mr Pawar. Two societies have already installed composing units.
In next 15 days, workshops will be held for societies where representative from each society along with hoteliers will be taught the composting process by a panel of experts. Lessons on source segregation and waste management will be imparted to them. Several composting units and machines will be displayed at the workshop for societies to choose a suitable one.
At present, Navi Mumbai with a population of more than 11 lakh, generates approximately 700 tonnes of garbage daily and 60 per cent of the residents segregate waste. To give source segregation a push, a penalty of Rs 250 has been levied on societies whose waste is found to be unsegregated. Special focus will be given to restaurants and food wastage says Mr Pawar, “Licenses of hotels will be suspended if they do not practice waste segregation and composting.”
Navi Mumbai corporation will also conduct an internal cleanliness survey in November to accelerate the dream of Clean India Mission 2019. Every society will be marked on different Swachh parametres and the cleanest society will be awarded with Rs 1 lakh. With the new rule and cleanliness competition, the civic body aims to significantly reduce the volume of waste generation by March 2018 and thereby improve its swachhta rankings in the next Swachh Survekshan.
Also Read: Navi Mumbai Eyes Cleanest City Award, Launches A Swachh Scheme – Go Litter-Free And Win Rs. 1 Lakh
