Mumbai civic body to invite Big B and Ratan Tata to be part of waste processing exhibition

At the exhibition, 115 companies are expected to display different waste-processing units.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will write to Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan and industrialist Ratan Tata inviting them to be part of a large-scale waste-processing exhibition to be held on September 1 , 2 and 3 at the National Sports Complex of India (NSCI) grounds in Worli.

Bachchan is already the brand ambassador of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Swachch Bharat Abhiyaan (HT)

This is part of the civic body’s effort to spread awareness about waste-segregation and composting.

Bachchan is already the brand ambassador of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Swachch Bharat Abhiyaan. At the exhibition, 115 companies are expected to display different waste-processing units. A senior civic official said, “By roping in celebrities, we are trying to spread the message far and wide.”

BMC has set an October 2 deadline for societies to start segregating wet and dry waste and compost wet waste.

According to a recent order, societies with an area of more than 20,000 square meters or more than 100kg of waste per day will have to install waste-processing units in their house. If not, BMC will not pick up their garbage.

BMC has also issued notices to 3,084 housing societies/commercial establishments to start segregating and composting wet waste by October 2. Of the three dumping grounds in the city - Deonar, Mulund and Kanjurmarg - only the last one has facilities of scientifically processing waste. Deonar and Mulund have to be shut as they have already reached their saturation point.

Meanwhile, in his monthly meeting, civic chief Ajoy Mehta has also asked the garden department to set-up waste-processing units in 350 gardens in the city. This way, the BMC is looking at setting an example that the city can follow, officials said. The wards officers of 24 wards in the city have also been asked to make a plan for the wet waste generated in their civic offices.