Speak up Mumbai: Is Maximum City really the cleanest capital?

Despite struggling to deal with prevailing issues of solid waste disposal, Mumbai was recognised as the cleanest state in India last week under the Swachh Survekshan (cleanliness survey) 2018 rankings. The irony is that the recognition comes at a time when the city, especially in and around slums areas, is struggling to dispose waste efficiently.

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has so far managed to reduce daily waste generation from 9000 metric tonne (MT) to 7500 MT in the last two years. Yet, railway tracks, low-lying areas, clusters of shanties, certain industrial areas are some of the places where one finds heaps of garbage lying unattended.

In a bid to prevent waste generation and channel waste disposal, the Bombay High Court had banned new construction projects in the city, primarily because Deonar and Mulund — Mumbai's two major dumping grounds were exhausted beyond their capacity. However, in March, the Supreme Court lifted the ban on new construction for six month with the condition that construction debris would not be dumped in the two dumping grounds.

That Mumbai was pushed back to the 29th position in the cleanliness survey 2017 from 6th in 2016 is a point the civic administration as well residents wouldn't dismiss. Similarly, they must not get carried away with Mumbai's achievement as many parts of the city are still stinking due to poor waste management.

VOICES

When it comes to cleanliness, Mumbai has definitely improved in the past few years but it has a long way to go. There is a dire need of solving the issue of waste disposal. However, relying only on the govt for everything is not the solution. We, citizens should come forward and do small things that can make a difference such as stop using plastic bags, segregate waste at home etc. 
—Anvi Mehta, resident of Vile Parle

The city is far from clean. Every corner of the city, even our beaches and iconic places are chocking under garbage. Don’t know on what criteria the city has been awarded as cleanest city. The clean marshalls appointed by BMC are not of any use. Instead of giving out awards, the govt should take solid measures to keep the city clean.
—Rajkumar Vyas, resident of Bhayender

I do feel that Mumbai is a clean capital. Though there are places that are dirty, there are always two sides to a coin. Mumbai would not have been a tourist place otherwise. Putting the blame on government is not correct. The city is cleaner than ever before, and one needs to make it cleaner. Also, awareness around cleanliness is also more, especially in children. Had Mumbai been unclean, family trips to Sewree to see flamingos would not have been possible. 
—Jiten Savla, Resident of Matunga

It’s a shame that while Mumbai is the commercial capital of the country, it is also one of the dirtiest cities. Even after collecting huge amount of taxes, the BMC fails to deliver the basic amenities to its city dwellers. The initiative with the clean up marshals has clearly failed and it is high time that officials are made accountable for the dirt in their wards.
—Ganesh Vaje, 34, Resident of Dahisar

The need for waste disposal and waste management has been taken very seriously and his thought was boosted by the advent of Swachh Bharat Mission people have started making efforts to keep the city clean. “Clean Mumbai” is still a long way to go. However, if people collectively participate in cleanliness drives and attempt to not litter the  streets, the dream of seeing Mumbai as the cleanest city not just in India but also in the world will definitely come to reality.
—Mugdha Pednekar, Lower Parel

Mumbai can be the cleanest capital in the country. I do agree that many places are full of filth and garbage but we also have many places which are spic and span. More than any civic body, we citizen should own this. It is we who should be blamed if a place is littered with garbage. I think the government has taken necessary steps to keep the city clean, now its our turn to take the matter seriously and keep our city clean to retain the position.
—Sushant Patil, Worli

Mumbai is far cleaner compared to other cities with similar population. Imagine the number of outsiders who travel to Mumbai and settle here every single day. I stay in Chembur and find it well-maintained, thanks to the socially aware Chemburkars. Even during Chembur festival which is organized every year in February, which attracts thousands of people from around the city, the organisers manage to drive the place back to normalcy, the very next day of the festival. That’s the spirit which keeps us going.
—Francis Joseph, resident of Chembur

The results are unbelievable. Cleanliness, hygiene and sanitation has always been an in the city. There is no awareness about waste segregation even in the most posh localities. There’s so much that the corporation need to do to ensure that it justifies the rank that the city has got.
—Durga Gudilu, Jogeshwari-based activist

EXPERT SPEAK

The achievement is a complete eyewash for Mumbaikars as there is no proper solution of garbage that is being generated everyday in the city. The civic body is only lifting litter and dumping at the dumping ground. There is no scientific disposal of garbage. We can see garbage in every nook and corner of BMC’s wards. Even public toilets are in poor condition. They neither have light nor have water connection. 
—Birju Mundra, expert, solid waste management

This is shame for all of us who are fighting against garbage problem in the city. This crown proves that people who are claiming that there is problem in garbage disposal, uncleaned nullah and prevalence of open defection in the city are wrong. All court cases against poor disposal of garbage in the city should be rejected. With garbage all around, Mumbai becomes cleaned state capitals, what would be condition of other parts of the country. 
—Rajkumar Sharma, President of ALMANAC