Mumbai: Garbage dumping ground in Mulund permanently shut
What's the story
The garbage dumping ground at Mumbai's Mulund was permanently closed from today after it got filled to its maximum capacity. Over 7,000 metric ton waste being generated every day in Mumbai will now be dumped at the landfills in Deonar and Kanjurmarg. "A Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) team found that no more waste can be dumped at the Mulund landfill," a BMC official said.
Details
Bombay HC had ordered for dumping grounds' shutdown in 2016
In February 2016, the Bombay High Court had ordered the BMC to close down the Mulund and Deonar dumping grounds after observing they had reached their saturation points. The High Court last month directed the Maharashtra Government to identify and allot a vacant land within two months to the Mumbai civic body to set up a new garbage dumping ground.
Processing waste
BMC appointed companies to process waste scientifically at Mulund ground
"We know that Kanjurmarg and Deonar dumping grounds are also nearing their full capacity. Therefore, two locations have been identified at Airoli and Taloja," the BMC official said. In June, BMC had appointed a consortium of companies to process waste scientifically at the Mulund dumping ground. The Mulund landfill, spread over 24 hectares was the second largest dumping ground in Mumbai, after Deonar.
Merits
Closing Mulund landfill will benefit 1mn people living nearby: MP
BJP MP Kirit Somaiya said the BMC's decision to close the Mulund landfill will benefit over 1mn people residing in the periphery of the dumping ground. "Now I'm following the issue of how to dispose the waste at the Deonar landfill scientifically and how the stench at the Kanjurmarg landfill can be minimized," said Somaiya, who represents the Mumbai North-East constituency which covers Mulund.