A study by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) on landfill sites for garbage disposal in 13 municipal councils in the financial capital’s outback region reveals that not even one of the sites has been notified as per Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Rules 2000.

The study, carried out by consultants Eco-Designs for MMRDA, also stated that these sites were not being operated scientifically but being used as unhygienic, open dumping grounds.

As per MMRDA estimates, the population of the 13 councils is 20.985 lakh while the waste generated is 525 tonnes a day.

“Most councils, barring four, don’t follow proper disposal technique. These sites do not even have preliminary treatment facility. They just dump waste on open grounds, which is hazardous to environment. Sites don’t have landfill sites notified as per MSW Rules, 2000, while

Alibaug landfill site is in close proximity to the sea violating CRZ guidelines,” M R Shah, Principal Advisor SWM cell told Newsline.

He added that councils like Nalasopara, Navghar-Manikpur, Virar and Vasai are developing a common landfill site to be operated “scientifically”.

According to the SWM cell of MMRDA, the study was done to check on techniques adopted by the Municipal Councils and remove shortcomings in management of landfill sites.

According to Shah, the issues before the urban local bodies are limited land availability, lack of planning, lack of expertise and exposure to technology, financial incapability to develop integrated disposal sites and the not-in-my-backyard-attitude.

“There is need for planning to improve these landfill sites as they would supplement the proposed common regional landfill sites for MMR,” Shah said.

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