Small hotels worry about BBMP move

Small hotels worry about BBMP move

The BBMP (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike) had issued a fresh circular last week for Solid Waste Management (SWM) to the bulk waste generators such as hotels and marriage halls.

The new circular states: “Wet waste and garden waste generated shall be composted at source or processed using bio methanisation techniques. Where it is not possible to compost wet waste at site, due to space constraint, alternate arrangements shall be made by generators to hand over the wet waste to private composters or BBMP or wet waste collectors, on payment, as specified by Zonal Commissioners concerned.”

There has been a mixed response from the hoteliers across the city regarding this move. Whereas some feel segregation of waste is the way to go, there are others who are waiting for further communication from the civic authority before they could comment on the same.

Smaller hotels are hoping to get more clarity on issues such as the amount they need to shell out and the number of waste collection centres which will be put up. 

Akbar Ali Ahmed, MD, Paramount Group of Hotels said, “We are part of the city, hence we need to comply with the new rules and get on with it. It might be difficult initially, but waste segregation is the right solution. A meeting was held recently when opposition came from some hotels. The small players have a problem because of shortage of staff and cleaners.”

Echoing a similar sentiment, Nirmala Balakrishna, Director of ‘Under The Mango Tree’ and ‘Soul Curry’ restaurant, feels that segregation is a move in the right direction. But she added, “Managing waste on our own is a difficult task, especially for smaller restaurants. For example, the cleaners in my hotel often get confused between completely dry and wet waste and we want to get that on track before the deadline approaches. And on giving the wet waste to the pourakarmikas, we might have to pay them more for an extra bag. And I hope that they come and collect waste from the doorstep, just like homes and apartments.”

On providing more clarity on the circular, Palike officials said that a meeting has already been conducted with hoteliers and there will be further communication in the coming weeks.

BBMP Commissioner, Rajneesh Goel said, “It’s a comprehensive circular which I have issued. I have asked the Joint Commissioner to ensure that meetings are conducted ward wise with various bulk generators. We need to understand from them and also explain what they need to do. The circular also tells about affordable mechanisms to compost the wet waste on their own.”

On the effect of the move on small restaurants and hotels, he said, “The small hotels are not mentioned in the circular issued. But they as well as street vendors are supposed to segregate waste.”

Members of the Hoteliers Association are not too happy with the new scheme of things. They quoted a High Court order, two years ago, when the issue of garbage cess was raging, which suggested that the BBMP cannot levy any more charges and had to clear the waste generated by the hotels. The circular also states that the bulk generators will have to send dry waste directly, at their own cost, to the recycling units or the BBMP collection points in their vicinity.

BBMP’s public relations officer, SS Khandre said, “The zonal Joint Commissioners have already recognised three dry waste collection centres in each ward. From October 1st onwards, dry waste will have to be sent there.” When asked if the bulk generators will also put their dry waste there, he said, “The bulk waste generators will have very less dry waste and hence they can send dry waste directly to the collection points. Only the wet waste will have to be composted at source or processed using bio methanisation techniques.”

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