Mumbai’s waste management and sewage infrastructure initiatives came under review on October 12, as Maharashtra Environment and Climate Change Minister Pankaja Munde assessed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s ongoing projects and called for greater public participation in waste segregation.
The meeting was held at the BMC headquarters and attended by Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde, Deputy Mayor Sanjay Ghadi, Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide, and representatives of the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board and civic administration.
Discussions covered solid waste disposal, construction and demolition debris, sewage treatment facilities and the phased rejuvenation of the Mithi River. Officials also presented measures to eliminate garbage-prone locations and explore waste-to-energy projects.
The civic body reported that 255 establishments had registered on the Mumbai Debris Control and Tracking System (MDCTS). The digital platform is designed to track construction and demolition waste throughout its transportation, processing and disposal, helping authorities strengthen monitoring and curb illegal dumping.
The BMC is also working towards removing 231 garbage-vulnerable points across the city. These locations remain a concern because poor waste disposal can affect neighbourhood cleanliness and allow refuse to enter drains and waterways.
Seven Sewage Treatment Plants Expected by 2028
The municipal administration informed the minister that seven sewage treatment plants are expected to become operational by around 2028. The facilities are intended to increase wastewater treatment capacity and reduce the discharge of untreated sewage into Mumbai’s waterways.
Munde expressed satisfaction with the civic body’s initiatives, while emphasising that infrastructure alone would not resolve the city’s waste management challenges. She urged residents to separate waste before handing it over for collection, highlighting the importance of household participation in improving municipal services.
Mithi River Rejuvenation Underway
The meeting also reviewed the ongoing, phased work to rejuvenate the Mithi River. Munde welcomed the progress and said the Maharashtra government was developing a mechanism to support river rejuvenation efforts across the state. However, no revised timeline or further details of the proposed mechanism were announced.
The initiatives connect several priorities for Mumbai: tracking construction debris, improving sewage treatment, eliminating garbage-prone spots and reducing pollution entering waterways. Key milestones include continued MDCTS registration, removal of vulnerable garbage points, progress on Mithi River works and commissioning the seven sewage treatment plants by 2028.
Source: Urban Acres
