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Residents, including some doctors, claimed that the daily fire in the dumping ground has resulted in respiratory diseases like bronchitis and asthma among the people in and around the locality. “The civic body has failed to take any action on this issue. Till now, we had to suffer because of the stink but the problems are getting worse with the smoke and increasing health hazards,” said Dr Neelam Rane, vice-president of Smoke Affected Residents Forum (SARF).
Reportedly around 2.5 lakh residents from Chembur, Ghatkopar and Vashi are affected because of the activities at the dumping ground.
Dr Rane also said that the BMC’s proposal of installing incinerator for treating biomedical waste at Deonar will worsen the problems for citizens. “There will be toxic fumes through the treatment of biomedical waste and this will be even more hazardous,” she said.
The residents claim that as per the affidavit filed in Bombay High Court, BMC was to install a garbage recycle unit, station fire engines and restrict entry of people. “The BMC has not acted on the affidavit and undertaken any short-term or long-term measures including fencing of the dumping ground. Unrestricted entry in the ground, especially of rag pickers, is resulting in more toxic fumes,” he said.
“We just want the dumping ground to be closed immediately,” he added.
The residents have threatened to go on an indefinite hunger strike if the BMC did not initiate measures within one month to prevent encroachment and station fire engines.
When contacted, Additional Municipal Commissioner R A Rajeev who oversees the solid waste management said that it is a well-known fact that Deonar dumping ground is a ‘gas chamber’. “It is not surprising that the area is polluted. There is also the RCF factory which adds the pollution,” he said.
Rajeev added that the BMC is taking measures and in the next one or two years the garbage quantity will reduce after the Kanjurmarg dumping site is developed. “We will also undertake partial closing of the ground and processing sanitary landfill will come up,” he said.
On the issue of fencing and security, Rajeev said that Deonar dumping ground has a porous border which allows entry of rag pickers. “It is the rag pickers who put the garbage on fire resulting in smoke. We do try and extinguish the fire. However, the area is so huge that any security measures will fall short,” he said.
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Lots of lip service has been given to this issue. There is no definite action, and this is affecting the lives of thousands around this area. The rehabilitated slum dwellers, who have limited means of livelihood, are the worst affected- they cant spend Rs 400/500 every week on drugs with dosages as high as 500 mg..No on can afford to spend hours every morning and evening steaming and using nasal drops to clear congestion that is created by the inertia of the BMC.Please help by highlighting this issue repeatedly to BMC and the Govt of Maharashtra
Hello,By developing another landfill at Kanjurmarg does not solve the problem.Every humanbeing wants to live on this earth.If earth gives us life what do v give back to earth...KACHRA....the only option is COMPOSTING.Nothing is impossible on this earth.Go greenN.T.S