The growing volume of construction and demolition (C&D) waste in Mumbai has raised serious concerns, with MLA Amit Satam calling for immediate reforms in the city’s rubble management system. He has urged Mayor Ritu Tawde and Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide to introduce a comprehensive policy to tackle the issue.
In his letter, Satam highlighted that despite the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) setting up debris recycling facilities, the system has failed to effectively manage the increasing waste. The city generates nearly 8,000 metric tonnes of C&D waste daily—equivalent to its total municipal solid waste output.
To address the problem, the BMC’s solid waste department has established processing plants in Dahisar and Shilphata and introduced a “debris on call” service. However, Satam pointed out that illegal dumping remains rampant. He noted that although developers are required to submit waste disposal plans for project approvals, compliance is weak.
The letter further raised concerns about debris being dumped in drains, mangroves, creeks, wetlands, and forest areas. In some cases, it is also used to fill vacant plots, enabling encroachments. These practices are contributing to flooding, environmental degradation, declining air quality, and the creation of informal dumping sites.
Satam has called for a technology-driven waste management framework and cited Delhi’s “Malba Portal” as a potential model. The digital platform enables real-time tracking of debris movement, project registration, and citizen reporting of violations, improving transparency and enforcement.
Meanwhile, the BMC stated that it has expanded its debris management initiatives. Along with processing facilities, the “debris on call” service has been integrated into the AutoDCR system to ensure that waste from large-scale projects is also collected and processed scientifically.
Despite these efforts, experts warn that stronger enforcement and systemic reforms are essential to address Mumbai’s escalating construction waste challenge.
Source: Loksatta
