New societies in Mumbai to treat wet waste on premises

Separate collection bins also a must, as per BMC’s draft DCR, 2034

After the flak it received for its shoddy management of waste in the city, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has now made it compulsory for all new constructions to treat wet waste within the society premises.

The DCR, 2034 specified that the developer include a clause in agreement that residents will treat wet waste inside the society premises. (HT FILE PHOTO)

In its draft Development Control Regulations (DCR), 2034 — some of the provisions were put up on the BMC’s website on Wednesday for public suggestions — the civic body has also mandated that all buildings be provided with separate coloured bins to collect dry waste, wet waste and household hazardous waste.

Three new chapters — IX (urban safety requirement), XI (miscellaneous provision) and XII (environmental sustainability) — were put up by the BMC.

The civic body faced serious criticism from various quarters after a major fire broke out at the Deonar dumping ground in January, followed by another one last month.

It was the January fire that highlighted the unsolved issue of waste disposal in the city. Following this, the state government’s urban development department directed the civic body to introduce provisions that made segregating waste at the source compulsory.

The DCR, 2034 specified that the developer include a clause in agreement that residents will treat wet waste inside the society premises and make arrangements for it.

The section 64 of chapter XII of the DCR 2034 states, “Provision for treating the wet waste in situ will have to be made and a clause must be included by the owner/developer in the purchase agreement with the purchaser, owner of the premises/organisation or society of the occupiers or the society of purchasers stating that wet waste will be treated in situ and shall have to be maintained in operational condition as per the requirement of MCGM if any.”

The DCR also states that dedicated space shall be allocated to collect waste before transferring it for recycling/disposal. It is stated that separate bins shall be provided for the safe disposal of hazardous waste (batteries, e-waste, lamps, medical waste, etc.) as provided in the hazardous waste management guidelines prescribed by the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF).