“Our office has brought to the notice of KDMC that the dumping ground should be shut down,” said Bharat Nimbharti, MPCB pollution control officer. He added that despite the correspondence, KDMC continued to dump garbage at Adharwadi.

Before the Adharwadi dumping ground began overflowing, the area was known by its famous landmark — the Adharwadi prison. However, now the foul smell emanating from the dumping ground is so overwhelming that the area is now known for its infamous landmark all encompassed in 4 acres — Adharwadi dumping ground. Apart from the MPCB notice, the dumping ground violates all other norms including being in coastal regulation zone and very close to the creek.

Currently, 700 metric tones of garbage generated by the twin townships of Kalyan and Dombivli heads for the Adharwadi dumping grounds, which lack any facility of solid waste management.

Interestingly, KDMC had developed the infrastructure at the 45-acre plot at Umberde including approach roads and electricity. A contract was allotted to a Hyderabad-based firm for segregation and treatment of garbage. In October 2007, the civic administration sought for the approval of the general body and in June 2008 the general body rejected the civic administration’s proposal. The corporators instead suggested that Adharwadi dumping ground could be used for solid waste management. When the civic administration wrote to the MPCB for ‘officially’ commencing solid waste management at Adharwadi, the proposal was straightaway rejected.     

KDMC Municipal commissioner Govind Rathod said: “There is an intention to shift to a new site for solid waste management. Some are supporting while others are objecting the shift to the new site. We will be again placing it before the general body for its consideration.”