Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Nov 30: The Bombay High Court (HC) on November 26 expressed surprise that a committee appointed in July has yet to take any action on complaints regarding air pollution near the Kanjurmarg dumping ground, and directed a hearing on December 2.

The committee, functioning under the guidance of the deputy chief minister, is expected to address grievances submitted by residents and take appropriate decisions. The HC, however, kept the arguments of residents, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) open for further deliberation.

In a July 8 order, the HC had formed the committee after noting the hardship faced by citizens living near the dumping site. The matter originated from a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by NGO Vanshakti and Mangesh Sangle, along with a petition by Kannamwar Co-operative Housing Society Association Ltd, highlighting issues of public health and fundamental human rights.

Residents, through their counsel Abhijeet Rane, informed the court that although the committee included senior officials such as the urban development secretary, deputy chief minister, BMC commissioner, and district collector, no meetings had been conducted.

Earlier, in a June interim order, the HC had stressed the need for authorities, including neighboring municipal corporations, to carefully consider the environmental and public health impact of municipal dumping grounds located near densely populated areas. The court emphasized the importance of a robust mechanism to identify suitable dumping sites with modern facilities to minimize ecological damage and pollution.
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In July, the HC asked the committee to submit a blueprint of concrete steps to alleviate the adverse impact on affected residents, involving inputs from the Ministry of Environment and Forests and civic bodies across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).

This week, the HC reiterated that the issue must be addressed urgently and posted the matter for a compliance report on December 11.

Notably, in a May 2, 2025 order, the HC had declared nearly 120 hectares of the Kanjurmarg dumping ground as protected forest and directed its restoration. However, in August, the Supreme Court stayed the HC’s order following a challenge from the state government.