Sunday, December 5, 2010

Navi Mumbai : Civic issue : Take care, NMMC's idea of plastic bins can cost dear!


Take care, NMMC's idea of plastic bins can cost dear!
For years housing societies of Navi Mumbai were asked to put their garbage in a bin put at a roadside corner. But these bins were removed when NMMC, in all its wisdom, introduced the system of Ghanta Gadi for garbage collection. The societies were provided new plastic garbage bins and collection workers coming along with the Ghanta Gadi vans started collecting garbage from the housing societies' gate.
Though apparently the arrangement seems fine but on the practical side it is quite an expensive proposition as the secretary of JN - 4 Type Apartments Owners Association (Building 1 to 8) T N Ganpathy found much to his dismay.
He says that the number of garbage bins provided is less than half the demand. Like for our society we had demanded a minimum of four bins but we got just two. "We have to somehow squeeze all the garbage in them. Secondly, the collection workers who come along the van empty the bins and throw them so rashly that they crack.
"In July last year one of the bins was similarly broken. The worker responsible for the breakage told us to contact NMMC for replacement bin. We immediately approached Vashi ward office with a written request. Let alone the bin we did not get even a small acknowledgement from them. So in the month of August we re-wrote the letter but again in vain. Till November we were made to run from pillar to post. And after a long follow-up, we were told by an official to buy a bin from a private shop. Upon enquiring from the shop we found that it costs Rs 4,000!"
"The Ghanta Gadi system has been implemented by NMMC so it's the responsibility of officials to provide all that is required for the purpose. We, the residents, are open to buy the bins directly from the corporation or privately, provided the bill is acknowledged by NMMC and the charges levied are appropriate," he says.
Responding to the garbage bin issue Babasaheb Rajale, deputy municipal commissioner Public Health says, "We don't have any specific policy on garbage bins. Initially, we had provided free bins to the housing societies and it is their responsibility to take care of them."
—Jaspal Singh Naol

NMMC to come up with policy on garbage bins
In the Cityplus issue dated February 19 we had raised the problem faced by residents due to the Ghanta Gadi system of picking garbage. City corporators have finally woken up to the issue and demanded that societies must be given free dustbins to allow better age disposal.
T Ganpathy secretary, JN 4 Type Owners Association, Sector-9 Vashi expresses, "The idea of the Ghanta Gadi seems to have been picked up during a study tour to a foreign country. But that does not mean that it would also be successful in Navi Mumbai. Prior to this system housing societies used to have their own bins where they used to collect the garbage and dump it in the corner of the lane where huge bins were located and later the garbage used to be picked up by the garbage van."
"But as the Ghanta Gadi system was implemented all the garbage bins from street corners were removed, making all societies dependent on Ghanta Gadi to dispose of their garbage. Also, the societies have been allotted two bins, one for dry and another for wet garbage. Residents take pains to dispose of their garbage accordingly. But conservancy workers coming to collect the garbage dump both the garbages in the van."
"Also, after collecting the garbage conservancy workers do not bother to put the bins in their proper place. They usually throw down the bins after emptying them, hence not damaging the bins but also spreading the garbage leftovers in the society premises," he adds.
On Monday, corporator Shaila Jayaji Nath was the first to enquire on the situation and demand new bins for residents. However, this was not accepted by Municipal Commissioner Vijay Nahata who responded, "Initially we had distributed around 4200 bins to societies all over the city free of cost. If there is a small damage we are ready to repair and give back the bins. But if they are not repairable then it's the responsibility of concerned society to buy one from its own funds. The cost is not so high that a society of 50 members cannot buy a dustbin."
This was opposed by many corporators. Deputy Mayor Bharat Nakhate enquired "When our corporation is ready to spend crores of rupees for cleanliness and health of the city and its residents, then why can't we spend money on providing bins to societies free of cost as it is directly related to the cleanliness of societies and health of their residents."
House Leader Vithal More said that if the corporation was not willing to spend its money then the money could be taken from Corporator's Fund. At this, Municipal Commissioner announced that the demand would be considered. "We will formulate a new policy at the earliest to resolve the problem," he said.
—Jaspal Singh Naol

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