Hoteliers in fix over SMC decision to lift waste on different days

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 16

The decision of the Shimla Municipal Corporation to lift dry and wet solid waste on different days has put small and medium hoteliers in a fix, as according to them non-collection of wet waste every day can lead to unhygienic conditions.

“Both solid and wet waste should be collected on a daily basis and in case there are any constraints, the SMC should identify places and put wet and dry garbage bins, where waste can be dumped,” says Sanjay Sood, president of Shimla Hotels and Restaurant Association.

The members of the association would soon meet the SMC Commissioner and request him to find a way out so that the wet waste decomposes rapidly, he said.

“Big establishments have land to construct waste disposal plant but small hotels and restaurants have serious space constraint and in case the waste is collected on alternate days or after two days, unhygienic conditions would prevail in the city and the concept of Swachh Bharat would be defeated,” another hotelier said.

“The hotels are paying hefty amount ranging between Rs6,000 and Rs15,000 per month and it is unfair on the part of the Municipal Corporation not to lift waste every day,” he said.

“The Solid Waste Management Rules 2016 provides for separate collection of wet and dry garbage and the same is being implemented throughout the country,” said Pankaj Rai, Shimla Municipal Corporation Commissioner.

“As residents are facing problems in segregating wet and dry waste every day, we have decided that we will collect only dry waste on Tuesday and Friday, while the wet waste would be collected on the rest of the days,” he said, adding that the temperature is low in Shimla and wet waste can be held up for a day.

“The big establishments generating over 50 kg waste every day will have to make their own arrangements as per the provisions of the Solid Waste Management Rules and they are bound to dispose their waste on their own,” he said.

“There are a large number of small hotels in the heart of the town with no space even for dumping daily waste and in case the wet waste is not collected and allowed to decompose, the air will be contaminated and it will become difficult to breathe,” said Amit Sood, a resident of the Mall Road.