Dumping ground No. 4 to come up in Kanjurmarg

KANJURMARG: The city will have its fourth dumping ground in a Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) in Kanjurmarg once the state government hands over its reins to the BMC.

This dumping ground, measuring 141 hectares, will come up near the Eastern Express highway in Kanjurmarg (East). The other three are located at Deonar, Gorai and Mulund.

When asked whether there was any special reason for choosing a spot in the eastern suburbs, R R Markande, chief engineer for Solid Waste Management said, “There is no reason as such. Mumbai needs a new dumping ground and the High Court has passed an order for its development.”

But non governmental oragnisations (NGOs) like City Space think otherwise. Neera Punj, convenor, City Space, says Mumbai does not need another dumping ground. “Mumbai is already short of open spaces. What we need is a good programme for solid waste management. Wet garbage, recyclable waste and the rest need to be segregated properly.

The amount that needs to be dumped is very little. Dumping all the garbage at one place is of no use at all,” she says. Markande says there is no reason for opposition on this issue because the ground is being developed for the betterment of Mumbaikars and the landfills will be conducted in an environment-friendly and scientific manner.