Waste management rules not followed at dumping ground: Bombay High Court

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court today expressed concern over failure of authorities in adopting norms of solid waste management and asked Maharashtra government to decide within a week the civic body's proposal to increase the capacity of Kanjurmarg dumping ground.

The judges said the situation was very alarming as the rules of waste management were not being followed at the dumping grounds and the state should consider providing alternative land for dumping.

The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai told the HC that every day 3,000 metric tonnes of waste are transported to Kanjurmarg dumping ground.

The three dumping grounds in the city -- Kanjurmarg, Mulund and Deonar -- receive 10,000 metric tonnes of solid waste a day. Mulund and Deonar sites would soon be closed because lease of respective lands expires in November, so the capacity of Kanjurmarg site must be increased, MCGM said.

The division bench, headed by Justice Abhay Oka, was hearing a bunch of PILs alleging that solid waste management rules are not followed at the dumping grounds, leading to pollution. Some PILs filed by local residents want dumping grounds to be shifted because of the foul smell they produce.

The MCGM said its proposal to augment capacity of Kanjurmarg ground to 6,500 metric tonnes by installing modern plants and equipment was pending with the state government.

The court then asked the state government to inform by September 10 its decision on this proposal.

MCGM proposes to hand over the Kanjurmarg site to a private contractor on `build, operate and transfer' basis. To give the land at concessional rate to the contractor, it needs state government's permission.