Deonar fire: Panel seeks criminal action against BMC

The two-member committee, set by the environment ministry, on Wednesday recommended criminal action against the BMC as none of the guidelines issued by central government in the year 2000 were followed by the civic body.

Environment ministry expressed its displeasure over the manner in which the unprocessed waste is being dumped at Deonar dumping ground and the BMC has not followed any of the guidelines issued by Central Government in 2000. Municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta has been asked to step up the measures at dumping grounds and waste disposal or may face action.

The report clearly mentioned that not only the BMC failed to treat the garbage at Deonar dumping ground, but it also polluted the creek. The union environment minister Prakash Javdekar on Wednesday afternoon held a meeting with a team from Mumbai led by BMC commissioner Ajoy Mehta at Delhi over the issue of reoccurrent fires at the Deonar dumping ground.

Additional municipal commissioner Sanjay Mukherjee, secretary of urban development department, secretary of environment department of Maharashtra were also called in. Javdekar discussed short, medium & long term measures for effective integrated waste management.

Sources claimed that the team from the central government tabled the report on Wednesday and was discussed. The committee in its report has stated that the manner in which waste is being handled by BMC is not satisfactory. The BMC being a cash rich corporation should have been able to take adequate measures all these years but even the year 2000 guidelines by the central government are not followed.

The BMC kept on dumping garbage and now the total volume is about 12 million tonnes.

The municipal commissioner is said to have asked the central government department to help BMC to frame new guidelines for tender document and bring clarity. "As there are set guidelines for power sector, even SWM new guidelines should be framed. Prakash Javdekar, union minister for environment has promised to extend all help from the central government to resolve the issue."

The issue of debris management will be given special attention. Charges for collection of construction waste. Tweeting about the meeting, the union minister said: "Holding a meeting with Maha & Mumbai Mahanagar Palika officials on #Deonar #garbage Dump fire issue."

On March 20, a fire broke out around 10am at the Deonar dump, as per the BMC records. By afternoon, thick smoke covered areas like Rafiq Nagar and Baba Nagar adjoining the dump, and was also moving towards Navi Mumbai. By March 21, smoke had reached as far as Wadala, though the BMC said it had brought the fire under control to an extent around 4.30am. However, fresh flames were reported once again on the evening of March 21.

Till today the Mumbai Fire Brigade is at the dump trying to douse the reoccurring pocket fires errupting within the 132 hectares of the dump. Pratap Rahangdale, chief fire officer, said that at least 200 people are working on Deonar dumping ground. "60 fire officers are fire fighting round the clock, other staff is handling different other work," he said.

Tweeting about it further Javdekar wrote: "Today asked the Maha and Mumbai Mahanagar Palika officials to have an integrated waste management system in #Deonar."

Manoj Kotak, BJP leader in the BMC, said that in the city, since past few years the scientific disposal of garbage is not even done.

"Central Pollution Control Board and Maharashtra Pollution Control Board has taken cognisance of the issue and have time and again alerted the BMC but the warnings were not heeded. If a smaller municipal corporation like Navi Mumbai can set up debris management plant, why cannot BMC do it," said Kotak.