Angry at the administration’s inability to douse the fire at Deonar landfill, angry residents on Sunday took out a protest march demanding the dumping ground be shifted from the area.
Beena Pillai, a Deonar resident, told The Hindu that residents of various societies are coming together with the demand. “We met the local MLA and have written a letter to the Municipal Commissioner as well,” she said. The residents are connecting through social media and are also planning to launch a Facebook page for the demand, she said.
Dr Sandip Rane, a cardiologist from Chembur who had filed a petition against the dumping ground in 1996, said he is planning to approach the court once again. “The civic body is lying about the sabotage. It is nothing but sheer carelessness of the BMC that has landed the citizens in trouble. The officials are trying to get away by calling it a sabotage,” he said. Dr Rane mentioned he is looking at the possibility of filing a criminal complaint against the BMC over this incident.
The fire at the dumping ground came under some control on Sunday but toxic smoke coming out of the garbage remains a matter of concern for the civic body. Acting on Chief Minister Devendra Fadanvis’s order, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) deployed a large number of personnel and machinery on Saturday, but could not fully control the fire and the smoke.
Minesh Pimple, deputy chief engineer, solid waste management, said, “Except a few small patches, we have controlled the fire. The situation is better. The smoke is also reduced, but continues to be an issue.”
Arwind Tiwari, a local resident and businessmen, said though reduced, the smoke is still troubling residents. On Sunday, some locals held a meeting to discuss the issue. “We don’t want this dumping ground here. We are thinking of filing a fresh PIL at the High Court,” he said.
Some residents plan to meet BMC officials on Monday to voice their concerns. “The BMC is the richest civic body in the country and still it is unable to control the fire for four days,” said a resident. Several groups and residential societies will be meeting officials in M ward and in Mantralaya.
(The writer is a freelance journalist) With inputs from Alok Deshpande
