Mumbai pays a heavy price for waste mismanagement, shells out ₹10 crore for site to scientifically process garbage

Mumbai generates close to 9,500 metric tonnes of waste a day

Mumbai recently paid a heavy price for its garbage mismanagement. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) paid the state Rs10 crore to take possession of a Taloja plot — where waste is expected to be scientifically processed — at the end of last month.

The Deonar dump is oversaturated and has even caught fire several times in the past. (HT File Photo)

With the Mulund and Deonar dumps oversaturated, the civic body has zeroed in on plots at Taloja and Airoli replacements. Mumbai generates close to 9,500 metric tonnes of waste a day, of which the BMC processes 3,000 metric tonnes which go to the Kanjurmarg dump.

Of the 50-hectare plot in Taloja, 38.87 hectares belongs to the state government. The civic body plans to acquire the remaining 12 hectares, which is private land. A senior civic official said there are 50 to 60 hutments on the land, the occupants of which will need to be rehabilitated.

Meanwhile, the civic body will file an affidavit in the Bombay high court, seeking to extend the deadline for shutting the Deonar dump. The high court had given the BMC time till June this year to stop dumping garbage at that site.