Notices have been contested by establishments saying they do not generate 25 kg of waste per day
Sonsodo waste treatment shed full with waste.
MARGAO
Guess how many hotels and residential societies have been categorized as bulk waste generators in the commercial capital, making them liable to pay different rates for waste collection from their premises?
Pose this question to Margao Municipal officials, and apt comes a reply that the process to identify bulk waste generators has been set in motion and soon these establishments will be categorized as bulk waste generators.
Indeed, Margao Municipal Council’s (MMC) ambitious project to identify the bulk waste generators in the commercial capital has been moving at a slow place over the years. Inquiries with the Margao Municipal technical section has only revealed that notices have gone to the bulk waste generators, but the process is yet to be taken to the logical conclusion.
Otherwise, consider this. The project to identify bulk waste generators was set in motion around three years when the Urban Development was headed by former Director, Dr Tariq Thomas. In fact, it was around four years ago in January 2020 after Tariq Thomas had descended in the commercial capital that the government gave a push to the Margao Municipality to take the bulk waste generators scheme to its conclusion.
An initial survey conducted by the Margao Municipality had revealed that the city plays host to around 150-odd bulk waste generators. The figure, sources said has now come down to around 100, but the moot question remains unanswered – when would the Margao Municipal declare and categorize the establishments, including residential housing societies as bulk waste generators.
Margao Municipal officials in the know informed that he civic body has been on the job to issue notices to the commercial establishments to categorize them as bulk waste generators. However, it has been revealed that the notices have been contested by the owners, on the plea the establishments do not generate 25 kilograms of waste per day.
“The MMC is in receipt of replies to the notices served by the civic body to establishments why they should not be declared as bulk waste generators. They have conveniently denied that their establishments come under the bulk waste generators category”, informed an official.
He added: “There are set guidelines and norms put in place to identify and categorize as bulk waste generators. The business establishments and housing societies cannot simply say they do not come under the purview of the bulk waste generators”.
The official pointed out that a bulk waste generator is liable to pay a fee of Rs eight for every kilogram of waste generated in the establishment. He, however, said the bulk waste generators will get the option of either setting up their own composting or bio-methanation units in their premises or tie-up with similar operators in order to establish a common facility. “If the bulk waste generators cannot avail these options, then they will be left with no option than to pay the prescribed fees”, the official added.
