Up in arms against continuous discharge of untreated waste from the storm water drains directly into the creeks causing major pollution, NGO Vanashakti has filed a petition with National Green Tribunal (NGT) seeking various measures including installation of nets to stop sewage solid waste from entering the sea. On Monday, while hearing the petition, NGT asked all the respondents, including BMC and others, to file a reply within two weeks.
The petition demands formulating an exhaustive plan for implementation of the Maharashtra Non-biodegradable garbage (control) Act, 2006 and emphasises on the need of installing nets in storm water/ discharge drains to stop sewage solid waste from entering the sea along with appointing adequate manpower to ensure the nets are regularly cleaned and the solid waste is removed.
“BMC has completely failed in proper collection and segregation of solid and plastic waste, which ends up choking storm water drains. Studies have shown how Mumbai generates 2,146 million litres per day (MLD) of sewage, of which only 1,098 MLD is treated and the remaining 49 percent (1,048 MLD) sewage was directly discharged into the sea or creeks without being treated,” said Stalin D, Director, Projects, Vanashakti. He added that since the authorities were not taking any steps to mitigate these pollution the harmful effect was being seen on mangroves, beaches, wetlands which are full of non-degradable plastic waste.
The petition also demands installation of mobile public toilets after identifying the areas close to beaches where open defecation is rampant, removal of pipelines directly releasing domestic sewage in the water bodies, creeks and wetlands without treatment as well as replacing the use of non-biodegradable plastic with cellular based biodegradable plastics as per section 4 of Maharashtra Non-biodegradable garbage (control) Act, 2006.
