The Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority has approved the bioremediation of the Deonar dumping ground, paving the way for its use in rehabilitating residents affected by the Dharavi Redevelopment Project. The decision allows for the treatment and removal of nearly 18.5 million tonnes of accumulated waste to make the land suitable for housing.
Under the rehabilitation plan, only eligible ground-floor residents of Dharavi—those who built homes before January 1, 2000—will receive free housing within Dharavi. Other residents will be relocated to alternative sites, including Deonar, Bhandup, Madh, the Kurla Dairy plot, and additional designated locations.
The Deonar land, owned by the state revenue department, spans about 110 acres allocated by the state cabinet in October 2024. The government has also earmarked other parcels, including land at Kanjurmarg, Mulund, Madh Island, and Kurla Dairy, to support the large-scale resettlement effort.
Mumbai generates approximately 6,500 metric tonnes of solid waste daily, with around 600 tonnes still being dumped at Deonar. The bioremediation work is being undertaken by Navayuga Engineering Company Limited.
Located near the ecologically sensitive Thane Creek and close to the Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary, the site is surrounded by mangroves and dense residential areas such as Govandi and Mankhurd. Authorities have stated that the project will not involve cutting mangroves or trees, with supporting infrastructure like offices, laboratories, and treatment plants planned outside Coastal Regulation Zone limits.
As per official records, “the project study area is quite heterogeneous with the presence of urban area, industrial area, research facilities, water bodies (Thane creek), airport, mangrove forest and a flamingo sanctuary”. The process will involve phased excavation, where “the actual excavation of the legacy waste accumulated over the years will be carried out from the top of the mound and gradually progressing towards the bottom of the mound,” with waste heaps rising up to 55 metres.
While the clearance has been granted, the project will also require approval from the Bombay High Court before execution proceeds.
Source: Hindustan Times
