The HC asks BMC and environment department to come up with plan to stop untreated waste disposal into the sea by Aug 10
The High Court has recently asked the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the state government to come up with a solution to stop disposal of untreated solid waste into the sea. Both this year and the preceding year, the sea threw up tonnes of garbage at the Marine Drive promenade during the monsoons.
A division bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Riyaz Chagla, while hearing a public interest litigation filed by NGO Citizens Circle for Social Welfare and Education, said the problem is serious and needs to be addressed to at the earliest.
Advocate Shehzad Naqvi, appearing for the NGO, pointed out to the court about the July 13 incident, when the civic body had to clear around 9,000 metric tonnes of garbage, thrown up by the sea during high tide. Patches of the promenade and the road were filled with garbage the following day.
He also relied on a report filed last year by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), which states that out of 2,671 million litre of sewage generated per day, 2,016 million litre is treated at eight sewage treatment plants by the BMC. The remaining 655 million litre of untreated sewage is discharged directly into the sea at different locations. To this, the bench said: "This is a serious issue. What is the solution to this?"
Senior Advocate Anil Sakhare, appearing for the corporation, sought time to place on record a detailed affidavit explaining what steps it has taken before and after the garbage was splashed onto the promenade. Accordingly, the court directed the BMC and a senior official of the state's Environment Department to file their affidavits by August 10.
The PIL had photographs of trees planted along the Marine Drive promenade, which according to them have no leaves because during high tide, water lashes on them, proving the extent of pollution, and how detrimental it is for the entire ecosystem.
The plea prays for directions to the corporation and MPCB to frame appropriate guidelines to stop polluting the coastal waters of the city. Authorities were directed to frame an appropriate policy/law to stop the flow of sewage into the 'Mithi River' and construct a drainage system in the vicinity of the river.
The BMC was also asked to upgrade its sewage treatment plants and also form a mechanism to verify whether all the sewage arriving at such plants is treated to its optimum level.
WHERE DOES THE WASTE GO?
9,000 tonnes Garbage spewed by the sea along Marine Drive this year
2,671 million litre of sewage generated per day
2,016 million litre treated at 8 sewage treatment plants by BMC.
655 million litre remains untreated and is discharged directly into the sea
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