Bombay High Court slams BMC and MPCB over Kanjurmarg dumping ground pollution crisis

The Bombay High Court has issued strong directives to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) over pollution and odour issues at the Kanjurmarg dumping ground. A division bench criticised the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) for failing to monitor environmental violations, calling its approach 'lackadaisical'. The court described the MPCB as a 'silent spectator' for not taking effective action on pollution, air quality, or odour around the facility. It ordered the board to file an affidavit detailing its past actions regarding the dumping ground.

A statutory audit and vigilance inspection were also mandated to ensure the BMC and its contractors follow environmental norms. The bench further directed daily night-time monitoring of odour, emissions, and pollution levels between 1 am and 6 am. To improve oversight, the court ordered 24/7 CCTV surveillance linked to the civic body’s office. Additional cameras must be installed, with live footage and recordings accessible on the Municipal Corporation’s website. The existing online portal, run by the contractor, must also be made more user-friendly and include a grievance redress system for affected residents. A monitoring committee, including an MPCB officer and the petitioner, will now oversee compliance and corrective measures at the site.

The directives aim to enforce stricter environmental compliance at the Kanjurmarg dumping ground. The MPCB must now submit a detailed report on its actions, while the BMC faces mandatory audits and real-time monitoring. The court’s orders seek to address long-standing pollution concerns through direct oversight and public accountability.