Waste disposal plan made mandatory for public functions

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has come out with a set of fresh guidelines to ensure that organisers who hold meetings / gatherings at public places keep them clean during and after the event.

The guidelines that were issued through a public notice on Tuesday will come into force with immediate effect, BBMP Commissioner G Kumar Naik said. “The City witnesses (many public) gatherings / meetings everyday and there have been complaints in the past about littering of waste such as water bottles, packaging materials, food items at the venues. Different types of waste are generated at such events. Considering all this, we have framed the guidelines.”

According to the notice, the public places could be Freedom Park, open grounds, parks, Palace Grounds, streets or any public utility earmarked land belonging to the civic body. The public gatherings could include any function, sports activity or even political meetings.
According to the guidelines, the organisers are vested with the responsibility to implement waste disposal practises, such as placing of adequate waste collection bins and deployment of cleaning staff.

Along with this, makeshift toilets should also be in place. Naik said the waste accumulated during the event would have to be transported to the nearest waste collection centre run by BBMP within two hours after the event. “We have already informed the Palike officials about the guidelines. The list of the designated  waste collection centres will be given in permission letter. Prior to holding any event, the organisers have to apply and get a permission letter from the jurisdictional medical officer of health (MoH),” he added.

Refundable deposits

Apart from following waste disposal norms, the organisers would also need to pay a refundable security deposit to the civic agency for occupying the premises.

“This is the first-of-its kind initiative. The deposit rate is fixed differently depending on the number of people gathered at the event. While for a gathering of up to 5,000 people, the rate is fixed at Rs 50,000, it is Rs one lakh for 5,000-10,000 people, Rs two lakh for 10,000– 25,000 people and Rs three lakh if the crowd gathered is more than 25,000 people,” BBMP spokesperson S S Khandre said.  The civic agency would refund the security deposit to the organisers only if they fulfil their obligations and guidelines. The deposit would be forfeited  if they fail to comply with the norms.