Garbage segregation at home to be mandatory from October 1

Segregation of garbage at source into dry waste, wet waste and plastic waste will be made mandatory across Bangalore from October 1.

The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) on Wednesday issued a notification to this effect, and warned that residents who do not implement this rule will be penalised.

Responding to the hue and cry raised by many residents’ welfare associations, NGOs and the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), the BBMP finally came out with a nine-point “Action Plan” to deal with the 4,500 tonnes of waste generated in Bangalore daily.

The action plan will be implemented in a time-bound fashion as the Palike has linked it with the Sakala scheme, where the liabilities will fall on the officers concerned.

Announcing this to mediapersons here, Mayor D Venkatesh Murthy and BBMP Commissioner Rajneesh Goel said the Palike has provision to levy penalty up to Rs 10 under the Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act but the Karnataka High Court has directed the Palike to collect fine up to Rs 100 from those not adhering to its order.

For implementing the nine-point programme, nine committees have been constituted comprising various officials including the chairman of the Standing Committee for Health.

The nine points are segregation at source, segregation by bulk garbage generators, identification of dry waste collection centres at all the 198 wards and their construction, preparation of integrated waste management plans for each ward, Sakala scheme headed by mayor and commissioner, identification of technology providers for bio-methanisation, identification of surplus garbage management sites, module-based monitory system and procurement of bins and equipment.

As the Palike has proposed to bring garbage clearing service under Karnataka Sakala Seve Act 2011, the sanitary inspector will be responsible for removing the garbage dumps within 24 hours as and when sought by the citizens. People can contact 080- 44554455 for enquiry, complaint and compensatory cost.

The Palike has also decided to strengthen its Grievance Management Cell by setting up another central helpline 080-22660000. Palike will use all the three means – information, education and communication – to reach out to the masses to make the scientific disposal of garbage a success. It will use stickers, handbills, posters, banners, radio jingles, TV spots and slides. In this regard it will take the help of the Residents’ Welfare Associations, NGOs, media, schools, colleges and institutions.

The BBMP aims at making Ganesha Chaturthi a garbage-free festival.
It has appealed to the groups installing Ganesha idol in their respective localities to minimise garbage generation during the festival season.