June 14, 2025: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has announced stringent action against private contractors found illegally dumping waste from housing societies onto public roads, particularly during night hours. This directive was issued by Additional Municipal Commissioner (City), Dr Ashwini Joshi, during a review meeting held on June 12 at the ‘N’ ward office in Ghatkopar.
Dr Joshi assessed the status of solid waste management across administrative wards in Mumbai’s Eastern suburbs and expressed serious concern over ongoing complaints of unauthorised dumping by contracted agencies. She underlined that the city’s cleanliness hinges on the combined responsibility and effectiveness of municipal personnel and private contractors alike.
“Negligence or absence from duty will not be tolerated. Everyone must be held accountable,” she stated firmly, stressing the importance of active oversight.
As part of enhanced enforcement, Dr Joshi instructed ward-level officials to devise micro-level waste collection strategies, particularly targeting high-density zones and areas generating significant volumes of waste. She also directed assistant commissioners to conduct surprise inspections to ensure that sanitation workers are not only present but also fulfilling their duties responsibly.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioner (Solid Waste Management) Kiran Dighavkar, Deputy Commissioner (Zone 6) Santoshkumar Dhonde, assistant commissioners from the Eastern suburbs, and officials from the solid waste department.
This move follows rising public dissatisfaction over deteriorating waste management standards in several neighbourhoods, especially during night-time hours when supervision is typically minimal. The BMC’s latest orders signal a renewed commitment to urban hygiene and an attempt to restore accountability within its sanitation framework.
As Mumbai continues its efforts to improve urban liveability, robust monitoring and timely interventions in waste management remain critical to sustaining civic standards and public health.
Source: Lokmat Times
