Deonar Dumping Ground

The Deonar dumping ground is a waste dumping ground or landfill in the city
of Mumbai. Located in the city's Deonar, an eastern suburb of the city, it is India's
oldest and largest dumping ground, set up in 1927. The dumping ground is
managed by the city's civic body, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (also
known as Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai), which also manages two
other dumping grounds in the city; one in the neighbourhood of Mulund and one
recently opened in Kanjurmarg.
The dumping ground extends over 132 hectares and receives 5,500 metric
tonnes of waste, 600 metric tonnes of silt and 25 tonnes of bio-medical waste
daily. Between March and June the daily amount of silt rises to more than 9,000
metric tonnes because of drain cleaning in advance of the monsoon season.
The dump rises to around 114 ft. high. However, in February 2012, Municipal
Corporation of Greater Mumbai sought permission from the Airport Authority of
India (AAI) to increase this to around 164 ft. As of December 2014, the waste
had reached the height of an 18-storeyed tower.
In March 2015, a new dumping site was opened in the city by the city's civic
body in Kanjurmarg which happens to be the first dumping site which is
processed scientifically.
The Deonar dumping ground has caused health issues for the residents from
Mumbai's neighbourhood of Chembur, Govandi and Mankhurd. Recurrent fires
at the dump have caused conditions unfit for habitation for residents of the
adjacent area. In 2008, around 40 residents of Chembur went on a hunger strike
to protest against the frequent fires and smoke. Again in 2012, Chembur residents
complained to the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai about the smoke
coming out of the dumping ground, which has been affecting asthma patients. In
2015, neighbourhood surrounding to the dumping ground was identified as the
city's most polluted area. Another fire broke out at the Deonar dumping ground
in January 2016 causing the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to
shut down 74 schools run by it for two days, as the smoke from the ground veiled
the area causing breathing difficulties.
Infant mortality has also been a concern in the nearby areas; as the rate stands at
60-80 per 1000 live births, which is double the average of 35.2 for the entire city.
The Deonar dumping ground that was built in 1927 is the oldest and the biggest
one in Asia. While most dumping grounds are retired within 30 years, Deonar has
outdone its saturation point and the garbage dumps are as high as nine-storeyed
buildings. Currently, dumping is carried out on 110 hectares of the 127 hectares.
Around 1,200 trucks full of garbage from all over the city come to empty the
garbage daily.
When the British identified the 127 hectares of land abutting the creek, it was far
away from civilization, save for small settlements. Today, thanks to the march of
urbanisation, Deonar is right in the heart of the city, spewing killer gases every
minute into the homes along Ghatkopar, Chembur and Vashi.
Around 25 lakh people are affected by the pollution from the Deonar ground, said
SARF representatives, who had moved the high court against the smoking ground
in 1996. A visit to nearby hospitals and nursing homes showed that several
residents in the Chembur-Ghatkopar stretch have been showing up with an
alarming incidence of respiratory problems. From frequent coughs to the more-
worrying chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the health of these citizens is in
shambles. The civic ward has more cases of tuberculosis than any other part of
the city.
According to additional municipal commissioner R A Rajeev, the new proposal
of the partial closure of the dumping ground, when passed by the standing
committee would solve the problems. The scientific closure will include
everything that has been recommended by the Maharashtra Pollution Control
Board (MPCB) and municipal solid waste (MSW) guidelines. The project is
really big and it takes time. MPCB has, however, told TOI that the partial closure
is in itself a daunting task.
Asked if the BMC had adhered to all the promises made to the high court a decade
ago, Rajeev said there was a fire engine in the nearby Deonar fire station. Security
is a major problem, he admitted. We also have to build a compound wall and have
fencing. We have included everything in the new proposal.
At a time when the Union government has banned smoking in public places, the
Deonar dumping ground spews killer gases 24x7 right into the bedrooms of 25
lakh Mumbaikars.
Calling the dumping grounds continued existence a violation of human rights, the
Smoke Affected Residents Forum (SARF) has filed a contempt petition against
the BMC commissioner in this regard. The petition will be heard on Wednesday.
The Deonar gases a concoction of carcinogenic methane, carbon dioxide and

hydrogen sulphide and fine particulate matter have resulted in the highest
incidence of TB in the suburbs of Chembur and Govandi. The surroundings are
so polluted that BEST employees have for the past seven years refused to take
possession of two residential buildings built close to the ground. Around 3,300
employees working in the Shivaji Nagar bus station, which abuts the dumping
ground, never eat at their smelly canteen.

Deonar Dumping Ground

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The Deonar dumping ground is a waste dumping ground or landfill in the city

The Deonar gases a concoction of carcinogenic methane, carbon dioxide and

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