June 14, 2025: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has vowed to take stringent action against private contractors found dumping waste from housing societies onto public roads, particularly during night hours. The 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 all administrative wards in the Eastern suburbs and took serious note of recurring complaints regarding illegal dumping by contractors. She underscored that maintaining cleanliness in Mumbai relies not only on the municipal workforce but equally on the efficiency and accountability of outsourced private agencies.
“Negligence or absence from duty will not be tolerated. Everyone must be held accountable,” she stated firmly, signalling a zero-tolerance approach toward laxity in civic duties.
In a bid to address the issue more effectively, Dr Joshi instructed ward officials to develop micro-level waste collection strategies tailored to high-density and high-waste generating areas. She further directed assistant commissioners to conduct unannounced inspections to ensure sanitation workers are both present on-site and actively performing their responsibilities.
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 senior officials from the solid waste management department.
The move reflects BMC’s renewed push towards improving urban sanitation and curbing unauthorised waste dumping that compromises public hygiene. With mounting pressure from residents over worsening waste disposal practices, civic authorities appear set to enforce stricter supervision and hold all stakeholders accountable.
As Mumbai continues to expand, efficient waste management remains a critical pillar in ensuring a cleaner, healthier urban environment for its citizens.
Source: Urban Acres
