The Bombay high court warned the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) of strict action if it was proven that the civic body is dumping garbage at the Kanjurmarg dumping ground without proper environmental clearance. The two-member bench of justice AM Khanwilkar and justice KK Tated granted the BMC time till March 15 to reply on all instances of non-compliance of municipal solid waste rules pointed by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) in its affidavit.

“If the corporation is indul-ging in dumping garbage in the stated area without environmental clearance certificate, the concerned officials of the corporation or any other person will be personally responsible for violating the condition [of the environmental clearance],” said the bench.

The court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by NGO Vanshakti. The PIL seeks closure of the Kanjurmarg dumping ground. The MPCB is also one of the respondents in the PIL.

“The Kanjurmarg landfill site is ill-equipped to handle large amounts of waste and is also degrading the wetland ecology at the site. Time and again,
the BMC has violated municipal solid waste rules,” said Stalin D, director (projects), Vanashakti.