The BBMP will not only slap a fine on those who do not segregate waste.
Violators could also end up with a “virtual” slap on their face. The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) soon plans to photograph such violators and upload their pictures on its website.
When contacted, BBMP Additional Commissioner (South) K V Trilok Chandra said pourakarmikas have been told to explain to residents the importance of segregating of waste. “If a house owner refuses to hand over segregated waste even after repeated warnings, pourakarmikas have been told to inform higher-ups, including health inspectors or assistant engineers,” he said.
“The official, in turn, will accompany the pourakarmikas on their routine rounds the following day,” he said. If they still refuse to segregate waste, officials will photograph the violators against the background of their houses. “These pictures will then be uploaded on our website,” he added.
More than 16 lakh properties spread over 800 sq km under BBMP jurisdiction have been geo-tagged. BBMP, which officially launched the smartphone service to monitor uncleared garbage by taking photographs at transfer points in the south zone, will now extend it to every household. BBMP has already been instructing pourakarmikas not to collect waste that is not segregated from next week.
“The idea is to warn people who do not segregate waste. To avoid embarrassment, people will segregate waste,” he said. The system will also help BBMP slap penalties. “We can confront violators with photographic evidence and their house address if they deny violations,” Chandra said.