Year after firm assured HC that it will be relocated, bio medical plant in Deonar continues to operate

A biomedical waste plant is a treatment facility that processes biological and medical waste. This plant is being maintained by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) through a private firm – SMS Envoclean Private Limited. The facility is equipped with a chimney which emits smoke after the waste items are processed in an incinerator. According to local residents, the smoke emitted from chimneys is one of the primary contributors behind pollution woes in the area.

The petition with NGT has been filed by city-based NGO–Govandi New Sangam Welfare Society–on September 3. It states that the waste facility was being set up in 2009 without any environmental clearances and no public consultation was held during that time.

“It is submitted that this facility is located in close proximity to densely populated areas. The entire M-East ward, including areas like Zakir Hussain Nagar, Kamla Raman Nagar and Anna Bhau Sathe Nagar which are within a 50 metre radius of this facility are being affected by the toxic gas which is emitted from this facility,” read the petition that was filed with the NGT.

Situated in one of the most densely populated localities in Mumbai Govandi, the waste facility is regarded as one of the primary sources of pollution in that area. (Express Photo)

In October 2022, a plea was filed in the HC by residents of Deonar, seeking immediate closure of the facility. The plea also sought penalty against the private contractor and shifting of at least half of the biomedical waste that at present is being received by Govandi plant to some other plant outside the city limits. Following this, the court sought replies and in its reply, SMS Envoclean Private Limited had assured the HC that it will relocate the plant itself at a new site after obtaining necessary permissions within thirteen months.

“It appears the administration is reluctant to relocate the facility, which shows that they are contradicting their own statement that was submitted to the court. This clearly shows that there’s no accountability. It has been almost a year since the HC was assured relocation of this plant. However, the facility continues to operate at full capacity. The HC in its order last year said we can approach NGT for further intervention and we are following that,” Faiyaz Shaikh, president of the society told Express on Tuesday.

“We are yet to receive land from the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), where the new plant could be set up. Previously, we were given land in Borivali’s Patalganga. However, considering this land is very close to the food processing industry, objections were filed,” Amit Nilawar, director of the plant told Express.

“Our response that was filed with the court stated that we will relocate the plant within 13 months only after an alternative site is allocated to us. Unless land is given to us, we can’t start the process of relocating the facility,” Nilawar told Express.

Meanwhile, a civic official maintained that the BMC has written to the pollution control board and MPCB urging them to initiate immediate allotment of the land.

“The plant needs to be relocated outside the geographical boundary of Mumbai and since BMC doesn’t own big land parcels outside the city we are awaiting allotment from the MIDC or state government,” a civic official said.

Further, in the plea submitted to NGT, the petitioner said that an RTI reply it availed–on medical records of people infected with TB, respiratory diseases and lung cancer in the M (East) Ward—revealed a concerning trend that showed at least 4,500-5,000 persons in the said ward are diagnosed with TB every year till May 2022 and the number of deaths due to the same were 1,877 from 2013.
The NGT has given the parties a four-week timeline to file their replies.