MOUNTING ISSUE

Open burning of garbage in Bhayander poses health risk

Mumbai: Improper disposal of garbage in Mira Road and Bhayander has reportedly led to a spurt in respiratory ailments among the residents, especially children. Ever since the closure of the Uttan dumping ground on September 13, last year, waste is being burnt openly across the region.
    While the Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation (MBMC) is still sleeping on the issue, the local Shiv Sena leaders have written to the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), seeking action against civic officials for failing in their basic duty of disposing waste in a scientific manner.
    The Thane court recently sentenced four civic officials of the Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation to two years’ imprisonment after a criminal case was made against them by the MPCB for failing to control water pollution in the Vasai creek.
    “Burning of garbage on busy roads and near residential areas has become common in Mira-Bhayander. We have been breathing impure air,’’ said Manisha Narayan, a resident of Shirdi Nagar, Bhayander.
    The Uttan dumping plant was shut down by locals complaining of foul smell. Since then, the MBMC has been unable to find an alternative for disposing the daily wastes of around 350 tonnes. The MBMC was even accused of dumping garbage on mangrove lands. Despite the state government directing the MBMC to restart the plant, nothing has been done so far. The Sena’s Dhanesh Patil has complained to the MPCB and the state health department that the health of the residents is at stake due to the open burning of garbage. Last month, residents of various localities had taken to the streets to protest against uncleared garbage.