Patna Municipal Corporation on Monday announced residents would have to segregate dry and wet garbage at home, even though it is yet to fully implement its much-publicised door-to-door waste collection plan.

Under the Centre's Swachh Bharat Mission, all households would require to segregate their dry (non-biodegradable) and wet (biodegradable) waste on their own. Clause number 225 of the Bihar Municipal Act, 2007, says residents have to ensure segregation of dry and wet waste. Additional Patna Municipal Commissioner Sanjay Dubey confirmed being aware of these rules.

So why is it not in place? Dubey blamed residents. "Residents have to ensure segregation of waste," he said.

Under Swachh Bharat Mission norms, the Centre has to provide two coloured bins to municipal bodies, which would then pass it on to residents. Biodegradable waste would go into the green bins and non-biodegradable ones into the blue ones.

Dubey said PMC had sent a requisition for around 4.22 lakh bins. "It would take at least a month to get the consignment from the Centre," Dubey said. "We would introduce segregation of waste at source as soon as we get the bins."

PMC would also install two coloured dustbins. In fact, the corporation began installing such dustbins at Maurya Lok Complex on Monday, World Environment Day.

PMC authorities admitted the door-to-door garbage collection drive launched with much fanfare on April 6 was poorly implemented, but blamed it on private agencies. A senior official of PMC's New Capital circle said a showcause notice had been served on Delhi-based People's Association For Total Help and Youth Applause (Patheya) for failure in implemention. "We're not satisfied with their answers and are deciding the penalty to be imposed," said the official.

Residents were livid. "PMC engaged private agencies saying they would blow a whistle before arriving to collect garbage," said Virendar Kaur, a homemaker and Boring Road resident. "Neither did we hear any whistle, nor was garbage collected from our doorstep."

"How can PMC blame residents for not segregating waste when it has not installed dustbins at public places," asked Sunil Kumar, a resident of Manidiri area.

PMC also launched a drive on May 2 to fine those littering the streets, but residents continue to dump garbage.