Deonar dumping site plan gets nod

After having once rejected the proposal in May and staging strong opposition citing high costs,the BMC’s Standing Committee on Monday finally gave its approval for the proposal.

The Hight Court had given the civic authority time till July 21 to submit a concrete plan or face contempt action. It is hearing a petition filed by Dr Sandeep Rane of the Smoke Affected Residents Forum (SARF).

According to the BMC’s proposal,of the 110-hectare ground — where 70 per cent of the city’s 10,000 metric tonnes of waste is dumped — an area of 65 hectares will be shut down while on the remaining land,a processing plant will be set up. 4,000 metric tonnes of garbage will be treated once the landfill site is set up.

“We are not happy with the proposal being passed as we have been demanding complete closure of the Deonar dumping ground. We do not want any garbage to come here in future,” Dr Rane said. He said the demand for complete closure will be put forth during the hearing.

The Deonar ground,set up in 1927,has outdone its saturation point with mounds of garbage haphazardly dumped. Around 1,200 trucks from all over the city empty their garbage daily in this dumping ground,thus leading to the emission of a concoction of carcinogenic methane,carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide and fine particulate matter.

Corporators,who have been opposing the proposal,changed their tune on Monday and said they do not want to face contempt action. “We might have to land up in jail if this proposal is opposed and not passed. For the betterment for the city and the people of Deonar,we should pass it,” said BJP leader Ashish Shellar. Congress and Shiv Sena also echoed the same.

Niyaz Wanu,NCP leader said currently,the civic administration is spending Rs 80 crore on the Deonar dumping ground annually. “Once this proposal is cleared,we will be spending Rs 100 crore per annum for the next 25 years,however there will be no pollution and people around can live in peace,” he said.

The members had raised several queries over the proposal including high tipping cost and monopoly of a single contractor.

Officials said that Deonar has been one of the most complicated projects and the proposal was tabled after much consideration. Additional municipal commissioner,R A Rajeev,also said that as per the demands of the residents,de-centralisation of garbage dumping was not possible as it would result in at least 300 such sites and Mumbai lacked such large ward-wise spaces.