Rs5,000 cr contract for partial closure of the ground is proposed to be awarded to United Phosphorous Ltd
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) proposal of partially closing Deonar dumping ground for processing and scientific treatment of garbage is going to be tabled at the standing committee meeting on Monday. However, the members themselves are confused over it.
For the first time in BMC’s history, a Rs5,000 crore contract for partial closure of Deonar dumping ground is proposed to be awarded to United Phosphorous Ltd for 25 years. However, the feasibility of such a huge proposal is being questioned.
This proposal, which aims at scientific land-filling and processing the mountain of garbage, will also reduce the garbage that comes to Deonar, but it is defeating the very purpose, said civic sources.
As per the proposal, 5,500 tonnes of Mumbai’s garbage is dumped at Deonar every day. When DNA visited the site, the height of the garbage was nearly of a five-storey structure, accumulated for more than 10 years. According to the calculations, if we assume that 5,500 tonnes of garbage has been dumped every day in Deonar, for, say, last 10 years, then if calculated, (5,500 x 365 days x 10 years), it shows that, at present, over 20 million tonnes of garbage is there at Deonar dumping ground.
However, the proposal reflects that only 51,500 tonnes of garbage will be treated.
“What will happen to the remaining 1,99,48,500 crore tonnes of garbage if only 51,500 tonnes of garbage is going to be treated? This is without including fresh garbage that will come in,” said civic sources.
“This proposal involves a cost of Rs5,000 crore and the contract is for 25 years. It needs a through discussion before it is sanctioned,” said Balchandra Shirsat, a BJP leader and the member of the standing committee. “This proposal is confusing on whether the semi-closure will prevent further dumping at Deonar. And what will happen to the fresh garbage that will be dumped?” asked Sameer Desai, the Congress corporator and another member of the committee.
Another bone of contention is that a huge tipping fee of Rs625 per tonne of garbage will be given to United Phosphorus Ltd which will be increased by 9% every year.
