The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has planned to construct compound walls at Deonar and Mulund dumping grounds to prevent trespassing and safeguarding the dumping grounds. The civic body has also made a provision of Rs 10.43 crore for the same in budget 2019-20.
After a series of fire incidents at the two dumping grounds, the civic body decided to construct a compound wall. One of the main reason for frequent fire incidents was trespassing of miscreants and burn the garbage. According to civic official, mostly rag pickers used to set fire in garbage to retrieve valuables, mostly metal. However, the fire caused huge environment issue.
The civic body had in the past tried to construct the compound wall. But, its previous effort received poor response from the standing committee. A proposal was tabled before the standing committee in March 2018, but it was held back by members. Ravi Raja, leader of opposition said that there was no clarity in civic administration’s proposal. “When the dumping ground has to be closed, there is no reason for compound wall. And, even they want to construct a wall, why there is so delay,” said Raja. Members had opposed the proposal on the ground that it was delayed and all the recommendation of a committee appointed after the fire was not followed in time bound.
A number of measures were suggested after frequent fire incidents at dumping ground. These measures were construction of compound wall, lighting, CCTV cameras, higher security, motorable roads. Some of measures like lighting, CCTV cameras were installed by the civic body, but constructing of compound walls was delayed.
Due to delay, the cost of constructing compound walls have increased. In 2018, around Rs8 crore was estimated cost. However, according to civic official, now more than Rs 10 crore will be required for the same work.
WORK IN PROGRESS
Meanwhile, the Mulund dumping ground has already been shut and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has already awarded a work order for processing around 11,20,000 metric tonnes of municipal garbage
