BMC allowed to use Deonar dump ground till December 31

Mumbai: The Bombay high court Tuesday, as last chance, granted the BMC permission to continue using the Deonar dumping ground till December 31, 2019, for dumping 450 metric tonnes of garbage per day. However, the court said that this was the “last extension” being granted to the BMC.

The court directed the BMC to find an alternate site for dumping garbage by December end.  

The division bench of Justice Abhay S. Oka and Justice M.S. Sanklecha said, “We make it clear that under no circumstances, further time will be granted. Sufficient time has been already given to the corporation to comply with earlier orders.”  

The court also directed the Maharashtra government to take steps for allotment of land to the BMC for setting up a solid waste disposal plant.

It may be recalled that the HC in April 2013 directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to close down the dumping grounds at Deonar and Mulund within three months because the civic body did not have a plant to treat the waste at these places and did not comply with the Solid Waste Management Act.  

However, the BMC was unable to comply with this and several other similar orders of the HC passed from time to time and hence, the court granted it extensions on different occasions to close down the two dumping sites.

The BMC maintained that it could not find an alternative site in the city for a dumping ground with a solid waste plant.  Another application seeking extension of time was filed by the BMC when the earlier extended duration got over.

On Tuesday, the HC decided this application and clarified that it was for the last time the court was granting an extension to dump garbage at the Deonar dumping ground in the eastern suburbs.