Criminal action against trash violators on cards

Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has threatened citizens with criminal action under the Municipal Act and Maharashtra Regional Town Planning (MRTP) Act for failing to carry out waste segregation and processing at their premises. The penalty includes imprisonment as well as a hefty fine. The civic body issued a circular on Thursday asking officials to take action against defaulting housing societies and bulk waste generators for not complying with municipal rules on waste management.

“Some sections are neither responding not submitting their action plan to segregate and process their waste. This will defeat the very purpose of the programme, where active and voluntarily public participation is the key. To ensure more participation, strict action is needed to be taken against defaulters,” said a senior official from the solid waste management (SWM) department.

The BMC has targeted housing complexes having a built up area of 20,000 sq metres as well as an environmental clearance, in which it is mentioned in the intimation of disapproval (IOD), to earmark a place for waste processing. It was found that instead of waste processing, this place was being used for other purpose. An IOD is approval of civil plans, while the CC authorises a developer to undertake the construction.

Wherever it is found at the place earmarked for waste processing is being used for other purposes, action will be taken under the MRTP Act, under which water and electricity connection of the society will be disconnected. If organic waste converter is not provided or operated, then the MPCB will be asked to take action under the provision of Environment Protection Act 1986, said the official.

In housing societies constructed since 2007, where the earmarked area for vermi-composting is free of FSI but used for other purpose, change of use action will be initiated against them. For other bulk waste generators, which are not carrying out waste processing, the offence will be registered and a fine will be imposed on the first instance. Thereafter, a fine will be imposed daily till compliance is met.