Mumbai: Office bearers of 103 housing complexes and bulk generators in the city are likely to face imprisonment of up to three years and pay a hefty fine for misusing space earmarked for waste management on their premises.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has sent notices under the Maharashtra Town Planning Act (MRTP) to them for not setting up vermi-composting plants and using the space for other purposes.
According to civic officials, the BMC has sent MRTP Act and Environment Protection (EP) Act notices to 103 and 272 housing complexes and bulk generators, respectively. The BMC has asked them to set up composting unit within a month.
The civic body has also sent notices under the Mumbai Municipal Corporation (MMC) Act to 3,402 bulk generators for not segregating and processing the waste on their premises. In south Mumbai, the list includes several prominent restaurants like Café Mondegar, Khyber, Samrat, Copper Chimney, Café Metro, Rahamaniya, Pancham Pooriwalla, Sai Pooja, Canon, Gulshan-A-Iran, Salt Water Café, Shiv Sagar etc. There are hotels like Diplomat, Sea Palace, Residency and corporate houses like Bajaj Bhavan, Dalamal Towers, Maker Chambers etc in the list.
The civic data says that out of 3,332 bulk generators, 2,684 are yet to start processing waste in their premises. “Some sections are neither responding nor submitting their action plan to segregate and process their waste. 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, which are having built up area of 20,000 sq metre and also have taken environmental clearance, in which it is necessary to earmark place for waste processing. Under the MRTP act, officials of housing societies are liable to face three months of imprisonment, which can be extended to three years, for not carrying out waste management. In addition to this, a penalty (Rs 2500 to Rs 10,000) will also be levied on these societies under the municipal act. They will also be charged additional fine of Rs 100 every day.
