The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has sought an explanation from the agency operating a dry-waste collection vehicle after a worker was allegedly filmed throwing garbage into the Mogra Nullah near Lokhandwala back road in Andheri West.
The incident came to light on Monday after a local resident recorded a video showing a worker tossing bags of waste over a bridge railing and into the water below. The vehicle involved was reportedly being operated by a contractor working for the civic body.
The BMC has now given the concerned agency 48 hours to explain the alleged violation. Officials have warned that failure to respond could result in cancellation of the work order and closure of the dry-waste sorting facility managed by the agency.
Residents Demand Action
The incident has sparked anger among residents and civic groups, particularly because the waste was allegedly being disposed of in a water channel instead of being taken to an authorised sorting facility.
The Lokhandwala Oshiwara Citizen Association (LOCA) shared footage of the incident on Instagram and criticised the manner in which the waste was allegedly handled.
“BMC, this is NOT how dry waste is supposed to be handled. A BMC dry waste tempo was just caught dumping collected garbage straight off the bridge onto Lokhandwala back road. Workers are casually throwing bags over the railing into the water/mud below like it’s an open dumping ground. This is the same corporation that lectures citizens about segregation and Swachh Bharat while its own vehicles treat public spaces and water bodies like a free landfill. Tagging you, @my_bmc, this is unacceptable, illegal, and a complete failure of basic civic responsibility. Fix this. Take action. Stop treating Mumbai like a dump yard.”
Dhaval Shah of LOCA also urged the civic administration to identify those responsible and take action.
BMC Calls Alleged Act a Serious Violation
Kiran Dighavkar, deputy municipal commissioner of the BMC’s solid waste management department, confirmed that a complaint had been received regarding the vehicle.
“We received a complaint regarding a vehicle MH-47-AS-4303, which was allegedly found dumping dry waste directly into the creek along the back road of Lokhandwala instead of taking it to the designated dry waste sorting centre. This is a blatant violation of the prescribed waste-management procedure and a serious environmental offence.
We have sought an explanation from the agency concerned within 48 hours, failing which strict action, including cancellation of the work order and closure of the dry waste sorting centre operated by the agency, will be initiated.”
Probe Into Waste Handling
The complaint has raised concerns over compliance with the BMC’s prescribed system for collecting, transporting and processing dry waste. Instead of being taken to a designated sorting facility, the garbage was allegedly disposed of directly into the nullah.
The civic body’s response will now depend on the explanation submitted by the contractor. If the agency fails to provide a satisfactory response within the stipulated period, the BMC has indicated that further action could follow.
The episode has also renewed attention on the importance of monitoring contracted waste-collection operations, particularly in areas surrounding drains, creeks and other sensitive water bodies.
For residents, the immediate demand is for effective enforcement of waste-disposal rules and accountability where civic vehicles or contractors are found allegedly violating prescribed procedures.
Source: Mid-day
