SDMC initiates waste segregation drive in 3 wards

DELHI: The South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) initiated a campaign to encourage the people living in its three model wards to segregate waste at source on May 19. The campaign was initiated in compliance with a March 2019, order of NGT, which instructed the civic bodies to select three wards in their jurisdiction which were to be converted into model wards.

These model wards are to implement the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 by the end of this Lok Sabha elections. If successful in the model wards, the same bylaws would be implemented in other wards of the city as well. Residents of the three model wards chosen by the SDMC, namely RK Puram, Andrews Ganj and Janakpuri South, were instructed about the bylaws on May 19.

Ramesh Verma, Additional Commissioner SDMC, stated that all the households, restaurants and bulk generators are required to start segregation at source. He also added that all garbage generators will have to pay notified user charges and have to ensure management of solid waste, failing which a penalty would be levied. According to the bylaws, the user fee for daily garbage collection ranges from Rs 50-Rs 5,000 per month, and the fine for non-segregation at source ranges from Rs 200-Rs 10,000.

The bylaws were introduced by Anil Baijan, LT Gen of Delhi, more than a year ago but are yet to implemented.