Install in-house processing unit, Amritsar MC tells bulk waste generators

Charanjit Singh Teja

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Amritsar, July 21

On the directions of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the Municipal Corporation will issue notices to more than 100 bulk waste generator firms to install processing units on their premises. A list of bulk waste generators has been prepared by the health wing of the Municipal Corporation.

In a meeting on the waste management today, MC Commissioner Kumar Saurabh Raj said, “An in-house processing unit is mandatory for bulk waste generators as per the Municipal Solid Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2016.

According to the official information, notices are being sent to 47 major hotels and restaurants, 12 marriage places, 25 educational institutions and 14 hospitals, including Guru Nanak Hospital.

Besides, the authorities of the Interstate Bus Terminal, Railway Station and Central Jail were also asked to install the processing machine. According to the MSW rules, a firm which generates more than 100 kg of waste per day is considered a bulk waste generator. The machine will process the wet waste only so these notices were sent to those firms which produce more wet waste than dry.

It is worth mentioning here that the Municipal Corporation had in August 2019 asked the concerned to install bulk generators, but no one followed the direction.

“Further delay in establishing in-house processing facility will result in penal action as per bylaws. We will regularly visit premises of the firms identified as bulk waste generators to inspect the working of the in-house processing unit,” said Dr Kiran Kumar, Municipal Health Officer.

MC Commissioner listens to 43 complaints

A public meeting was organised by MC Commissioner Kumar Saurabh Raj at Ranjit Avenue office on Thursday. He listened to the public grievances and resolved them on the spot. A total of 43 complaints were received in the meeting. Out of these, 15 of operation and maintenance cell, four of civil wing, three of health department, seven of MTP department, six of land department, five related to Joint Commissioner department and one complaint each from the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, DCFA, Octroi Department were received. Saurabh Raj issued instructions to the officials concerned to resolve the issues. Some complaints were settled on the spot.

‘Set up facility in 15 days or face penal action’

To comply with the directions of the NGT, all bulk waste generators in the city are directed to install in-house waste processing facility within 15 days otherwise penal action will be taken by the Municipal Corporation. — Kumar Saurabh Raj, MC Commissioner