The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has launched a new WhatsApp chatbot number, 8169681697, to register complaints regarding garbage. This service will commence on Monday, June 5, coinciding with Environment Day. Recently, the civic body also allocated another number to report unclean nullahs. These steps were taken after Chief Minister Eknath Shinde instructed the BMC to establish dedicated numbers for complaint registration. However, activists have expressed discontent, urging the civic body to enhance existing complaint-redressal services.

Citizens can directly send photos to the WhatsApp chatbot number to report issues such as “garbage not being picked up, roads not being cleaned, and dead animals not being removed.” An official from the BMC stated, “Citizens should share the address/GPS location along with the photograph. Once registered, the complaint will be forwarded to the relevant department. The solid waste management officer concerned will address the complaint within the specified timeframe and upload a photograph of the resolved spot.” This measure aims to significantly reduce grievance resolution time.