BMC zeroes in on zero garbage drive

MUMBAI, July 28: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation today reiterated its resolve to ensure zero garbage day on August 14, even as the K...

MUMBAI, July 28: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation today reiterated its resolve to ensure zero garbage day on August 14, even as the KhoobSurat drive announced seven months ago has received a beating.

The fine imposed by the BMC to create public awareness seems to have achieved little success. So far, over Rs 87 lakh have been collected as fine from contractors who did not clear garbage properly, but the city still looks the same. Over three lakh people have been fined Rs 94 lakh for littering. About 2,000 to 22,000 persons on an average are fined everyday.

Mayor Vishakha Raut announced at a press conference that the corporation had decided to honour citizens by achieving zero garbage level on the eve of August 15 to celebrate 50 years of Indian Independence. This is the second drive announced by BMC this year to clean the city. Presently, there are 5,042 garbage collections points all over the city. Raut informed the number of collection points will be increased by 604. She said hotel owners have been asked to put waste food in plastic bags before dumping it in dustbins, as this will ensure that food is not scattered by animals and birds.

Additional municipal commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad said shop-keepers on main roads will now be charged Rs 50 per month as administrative charges to sweep roads a second time in the day. Commissioner Girish Gaikwad claimed there was some progress in the collection of garbage, though the rise was just by seven per cent. He said house-to-house garbage collection has been implemented in H-west ward and will be implemented in other wards also.

More water for Mumbai

The BMC has decided to announce some benefits on August 15. One of them is more water for the people of Mumbai. Residents who receive 45 litres of water everyday will henceforth receive 75 litres daily.

The water supply to the city has also been increased by another 100 million litres per day. The BMC has also sent a proposal to the state government requesting it to allow the corporation to supply water to slums which have come up between 1985 and 1995. The corporation has also decided to regularise lofts in industries.