A residents’ organisation in Govandi has called for an immediate stop to alleged fresh waste dumping at the Deonar landfill and demanded a firm schedule for its scientific closure. The group has warned that processing around 18.5 million tonnes of accumulated waste could release dangerous gases into nearby residential areas if proper safety measures are not implemented.
In a legal notice dated October 26, the Govandi New Sangam Welfare Society has asked the BMC, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and Mumbai Police Commissioner to act within 14 days. It has warned of approaching the Bombay High Court and the National Green Tribunal if its demands remain unaddressed.
Local corporator Zameer Qureshi highlighted the risks associated with excavating the nearly century-old, 20-storey-high waste mound. “Around 18.5 million tonnes of garbage have to be shifted,” he said. “Methane, ammonia and sulphur dioxide are present beneath it and they could be released into the surrounding areas, where there are residential settlements.”
Qureshi said approximately 1.65 lakh people in Govandi’s M East wards 134, 135 and 136 could face the greatest impact. He called for gas-collection systems to be incorporated into the project. The society estimates that nearly five lakh residents could be affected.
Its president, Advocate Faiyaz Alam Shaikh, said the dumping ground continued to expose neighbouring communities to pollution and environmental hazards. “I have issued a 14-day notice demanding the complete closure of the Deonar dumping ground,” he said. “We have been given false hopes for the last seven years that it will be shut down but fresh waste continues to be dumped there.”
The group has sought a prohibition on fresh waste disposal, a month-wise biomining and restoration plan, methane extraction, leachate treatment and public access to pollution-monitoring data.
The BMC, however, denied that fresh waste was being deposited at the site. Deputy Municipal Commissioner Kiran Dighavkar said, “There is no question of methane gas emissions in Deonar as the bioremediation is in process,” adding that fresh waste had been diverted to Kanjurmarg and MPCB safeguards would be followed.
The bioremediation project aims to clear the legacy waste and reclaim 110 hectares. Navayuga Engineering Company reported that six processing machines, with a combined capacity of 1,800 tonnes per hour, had been commissioned by October 14. The residents’ group has said it may pursue legal action if its demands are not met.
Source: Hindustan Times
