BMC fails to take steps to prevent fires at Deonar

The BMC, however, is yet to take steps to implement any of the suggestions. Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta said, “We have drawn up a plan of action and will start on that. Some of the plans require tendering and will take some time.” The High Court has, meanwhile, ordered a stay on all new construction proposals, for non-compliance with solid waste management rules.

While senior civic officials said the concept of a waste-to-energy section in the Deonar dumping ground, which will process around 2,000 metric tonne waste, is still in the planning stage, they have decided to stop dumping of garbage in the Mulund landfill.
Mehta said, “We have commenced the closure of Deonar and Mulund dumping grounds. A consultant for Deonar has been appointed and one for Mulund will be appointed in the next three months.”

Senior civic officials stated that the BMC decided to stop further dumping of garbage after that. “About six months after appointment of the consultant, no new dumping will take place at Mulund and the waste will be scientifically processed. Based on the success model for the dumping ground at Mulund, lessons from it will be used for Deonar,” the official said. Speaking on the BMC’s failure to address the issue, Samajwadi Party corporator Rais Shaikh said, “The BMC is not addressing the core issue of trapping the methane and even after all the meetings, no concrete plan is in hand.”

Referring to the HC ordering a stay on all new construction proposals since the state and BMC had not complied with solid waste management rules, Shaikh stated this indirectly pointed out the incompetence of the Shiv Sena-led civic body, which has not uccessfully addressed the issue in the last 20 years.

arita.sarkar@expressindia.com