Biogas lights up streets of Pali Hill At Bandra's Pali Hill, apart from making sure that the roads are in a good condition and the area is secured, the ALM has managed to do more. It has not only rid itself of problems with regard to wet waste management, but has done the same in a way that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation doubly benefits from it. In a first of its kind move, the Pali Hill Residents Association (PHRA), along with the help of the BMC and some corporate social responsibility (CSR) set up a waste-to-energy biogas plant at the Pali Hill reservoir in May, 2018. With the development, the area has managed to hit zero in wet waste. The biogas also lights up 68 street lamps in the area. The dry waste is collected separately by the civic authority. (Residual manure from the plant to be used as manure) The waste segregated from 78 buildings and 23 bungalows goes to the biogas plant. "The power produced from it is used to light up 68 street lights on Pali Hill," said Madhu Poplai, secretary of Pali Hill. With a capacity of one tone, the waste-to-energy plant saves Rs 12 to 14 lakh (approximately) per annum of BMC's money. "The money saved includes cost of transportation and disposal of waste by the BMC, cost of treatment at the dumping ground, and the electricity bill of street lights," said Poplai. Around 200 kg of manure that is left every month as a residue from the plant is also utilised. Also Read: Needed: More Civic Sense LOCA focusses on preparing for monsoon months Every year, the resident association in Andheri West coordinates with the municipal ward office in order to prepare for the monsoon months. Members of the Lokhandwala Oshiwara Citizens Association (LOCA) pass on the citizens' complaints to the ward office via WhatsApp groups and personal messages in order to solve civic issues. According to the members of LOCA, the K-West ward officials help them by attending to the problem in time and resolving it. For a month, around 20 complaints of a broken and open manhole on the road, as well as silt piled up on the roads were being forwarded by the Andheri West residents to the association; the problems were later taken care of by civic officials. (A compost pit) Dhaval Shah, founder of LOCA, said, “We forward complaints to the junior engineer concerned. Around 80 per cent of the complaints made in May was related to pre-monsoon preparedness. They take around two to three days of time. Every year, this has been a usual complaint in the area.” He said, “This year too, 20 pictures of broken manholes needing repair were forwarded to civic officials.” Also Read: Engaging public has a history This Chembur colony started segregating waste in 2001 At Chembur's Mysore colony, the ALM takes pride in the fact that it managed to stay ahead of its civic responsibilities. The ALM managed to not only segregate waste before the civic officials came knocking on their doors. “It was in 2001. We started waste segregation even before the civic body could ask us to do the same. We had two bins that were given to each of the 96 bungalows that are part of the Mysore ALM and administered by the Mysore CHS Ltd. While we used to segregate the waste, the BMC would mix it while taking it to the dump yard,” said E C John, honorary secretary of the Mysore Colony ALM associated with the M West Ward. Spread over 22 acre with 96 bungalows as its members, the ALM first thought of segregation when it saw the neighbourhood dirty. “The BMC bins were all over and they were always spilling. So, we decided to segregate. Back then, they did not have any provision for dry waste; something they have now,” said John. The ALM slowly spread its grip to treating garden waste, take up issues of flooding, illegal construction, and lighting in the area. “We have installed a shredder that shreds the waste before it is sent for composting in an electronic machine that can compost 500 kg in 24 hours,” John added. Also Read: Hold fortnightly meets for active public response: James John Also Read: 'State ways in lucid terms to help budget'

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