BMC still in mess over city’s garbage

Mumbai: Despite the Mulund dumping ground being shut from Monday, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is a long way off from solving the garbage menace plaguing the city. The civic body’s efforts to find alternate dump sites outside the city have also failed to materialise so far.

The state government has allotted around 32.77 hectares of land to the BMC at Mulund (east) near Airoli bridge for the development of a scientific waste processing facility. After receiving physical possession of the said land, the BMC will undertake work for development of scientific waste processing facilities, said a senior civic official.

 In addition, the state government has also allotted around 52.10 hectares of land to the BMC at Karwale (Kh.) near Taloja for development of scientific waste processing facilities, he added.

Solid waste generated in Mumbai is over 7200-7500 Metric Tonnes per day (MTPD). The garbage from all over the city is collected and disposed off at the two dumping sites at Deonar and Mulund by simple a dumping and leveling method.

However, it has proved to be hazardous for urban environment, which gets affected due to solid waste which contains biogradable, non-biodegradable, construction, demolition and hazardous waste. Dumping of garbage also poses a health hazard as it is a breeding ground for mosquitoes, flies, rodents etc, which may carry diseases-causing pathogens. It also aggravates air pollution, ground water pollution and soil pollution, thus affecting the fragile ecosystem.