The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is yet to form a committee for continuous monitoring of the Deonar dumpyard, which has has been smouldering for the last two months.
The high court had given directions to the civic body on February 27 to appoint a committee and submit a list of names for the proposed panel. The HC indicated that the panel, headed by a retired IAS officer, will also comprise a noted environmentalist, a couple of prominent citizens and an expert from IIT-Bombay. In fact, according to sources, the committee was to be headed by retired IAS officer Rahul Asthana.
However, nothing has happened as of now.
A senior civic official said the court had given a six-week deadline to BMC. "We are aware that we have to go before court. We still have two weeks to go. We will finalise the names and appoint a monitoring committee shortly," he said, on the condition of anonymity.
Meanwhile, civic activists and residents from the affected area were upset about the delay. "Is the civic chief really serious about the Deonar fire? We are not from any political party. We are not fighting for political mileage. This is affecting our life day in and day out," said a senior citizen from Deonar. He said there used to be fires on and off but since January, the situation has taken a turn for worse.
A civic activist from the area said that while political parties were trying to have their way, the citizens were suffering. "Why cannot BMC at least follow the high court orders and appoint a committee? We are ready to provide assistance, if required. It is high time that BMC takes us seriously."
Meanwhile, Mumbai Congress president Sanjay Nirupam and Opposition leader in the BMC Pravin Chheda have organised an open house discussion on Deonar issues and also pre-emptive measures for Mulund and Kanjur dumpyards. The meeting, to be held at 10.30am on Sunday at the RBK International Academy in Chembur (E), will be an open forum for citizens, which will focus on Mumbaikars facing health hazards due to unprecedented garbage crisis prevailing in the city.
