Tuesday, 21 February 2023 | PNS | DEHRADUN
Seeks action plan from BWGs in 20 days for waste disposal
The Municipal Corporation of Dehradun (MCD) has decided to impose a fine on bulk waste generators (BWGs) following the failure of its plan to engage them with the corporation for waste segregation and disposal through registration in the Bulk Waste Generator App. The corporation has also asked BWGs to submit their action plan to dispose of the garbage. This decision has been taken to ensure that BWGs are adhering to the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, said Dehradun municipal commissioner Manuj Goyal.
The corporation on November 22 had launched the app to promote segregation practice among resident welfare associations (RWAs) and commercial establishments like hotels, restaurants, vending zones and wedding venues as they generate garbage in bulk on a daily basis. The MCD asked BWGs to register in the app so that door to door vehicles can pick up the segregated garbage to ensure minimal waste ends up in landfills and waste management plants. The commercial establishments were also being offered time slots as per their preference without any additional charge for any of this facility. The officials had stated that if such establishments will start just segregating their waste before disposal, it will reduce the city’s waste disposal issue of daily generated garbage of about 400 metric tonne by 30 to 40 per cent. The MCD expected at least 3,000 registrations but according to the officials, it has hardly touched 1,000 registrations in the past three months.
Stating that since most of BWGs have shown no interest in MCD’s initiative to dispose of their bulk waste, the commissioner said that now such waste generators would have to ensure disposal of their waste on their own under Swachchh Bharat Mission and SWM rules. He said that the corporation started a dialogue with BWGs and took an initiative to ensure proper waste disposal but due to lack of response from them, MCD is forced to take action against those establishments who fail to comply with the rules. He said that as per the rules, high-rise apartments or multi-floor residential societies having more than 50 residential units will also have to dispose of the waste through segregation by composting or any other authorised method.
Goyal issued instructions to all such establishments on Monday to present an action plan to dispose of waste generated by them within 20 days as per the rules. After the approval, the establishment would have to implement the plan within a month and failure to do so would result in penalties. He said that initially the establishment would be fined with Rs 5,000 for not providing its plan to MCD within 20 days as per SWM rules. A penalty of Rs 10,000 will be imposed for the second time and every time thereafter Rs 10,000 will be added to the fine. Goyal also informed that MCD will also conduct a meeting on February 28 with BWGs to ensure they comply with rules and can clear their doubts regarding the order.
