Thane’s garbage problem becomes a burning issue

Thane is grappling with recurring fire incidents at its dumping grounds particularly in the Daighar Diva and Bhandarli areas sparking health concerns among residents While civic officials attribute the incidents to rising temperatures and hot weather locals suspect foul playA resident of Daighar has formally complained to the National Green Tribunal NGT on February 14 demanding interventionThe high plastic content in the waste is exacerbating the situation as burning plastic releases toxic fumes causing eye irritation respiratory issues and nausea among residents The latest fire at Bhandarli dumping ground in Dombivli under the Thane Municipal Corporationrsquos TMC jurisdiction sent massive plumes of smoke across the region This marks the second major fire at the site intensifying the concerns of residents from 14 surrounding villages who have long opposed the dumping ground due to its environmental and health hazardsMounds of trash in flames at the Bhandarli dumping ground on FridayBhandarli as well as the villages of Narivli Bale Dahisar Dahisar Mori Mokashipada Uttarshiv Goteghar Waklan Bamanliv Nighu Nevali Pimpri and Nagav are still under gram panchayat administration while the areas around them are governed by municipal corporationsGrowing protestsFollowing protests by Chauda Gaon residents in 2023 the TMC shifted its dumping operations to Daighar Gaon which was originally designated for a wastetoenergy project However this relocation has led to fresh protests with residents even moving court over the issue Thane currently generates 1039 tonnes of municipal solid waste daily comprising 624 tonnes of wet waste and 390 tonnes of dry waste including inert wasteOngoing dumping at Sabe Gaon Diva PicSachin BhoirPreviously the civic body disposed of garbage in Diva but after being penalised by the NGT for damaging mangroves it ceased dumping there in February 2023 The waste was then temporarily moved to Bhandarli but following further protests dumping was halted TMC then redirected operations to Daighar Gaon leading to renewed opposition from residents who claim the unscientific dumping is making their lives miserableNGT interventionThe temporary dumping ground in Chauda Gaav was utilised by TMC for nine months leading to the accumulation of over one lakh metric tonnes of legacy waste Following the publication of a midday report the NGT took suo motu action and on January 10 2024 ordered the TMC to clear the waste within four months Additionally TMC was directed to deposit a R5 lakh bank guarantee with the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board MPCB which will be forfeited if the deadline is not metA blaze at the Daighar dumping site in ThaneResidents allege that TMCrsquos promises of temporary dumping solutions have only worsened their living conditions Laxman Patil a resident of Chauda Gaav stated ldquoWe endured the stench and health risks at the chief ministerrsquos request but the situation has only deterioratedrdquoAllegations of arsonSome residents believe the fires are deliberate ldquoI doubt the fire at BhandarliChauda Gaav was caused by rising temperatures This looks like someonersquos handiworkrdquo said Laxman Patil Maharashtra Navnirman Sena leader Raju Patil echoed these concerns on social media posting on X ldquoWhy do we have Thanersquos waste smoke and stench Bhandarli is on fire Daighar dumping is on fire and dumping at Diva has resumedIllegal dumpingResidents of Daighar Gaon have been protesting since 200102 when a fivehectare plot reserved for a playground was allocated for a wastetoenergy plant which remains unfinished even after two decades This has led to the unscientific dumping of waste causing crops to rot and posing serious health hazardsFormer corporator and local NCP leader Hira Patil has been advocating for decentralised waste management plants instead of concentrating waste disposal in one area His son Kiran Patil who has petitioned the NGT accused the TMC of illegal waste burning at Daighar presenting geotagged photographic evidence ldquoThe TMC is illegally dumping waste under the guise of processing it leading to massive fires that endanger thousands of residentsrdquo his complaint statesKiran Patil alleged violations of the Solid Waste Management Rules 2016 citing the absence of a buffer zone ldquoThis negligence has resulted in severe air pollution health issues and unbearable odourrdquo he added urging NGT to take immediate actionSachin Bhoir a resident of Diva said ldquoWe have been facing the issue of garbage dumping since 2007 However after continuous protests by activists from various political parties local pressure led to the halting of dumping activities in Diva in 2023 Following this garbage dumping was diverted to Bhandarli Gaon where locals also protested Similar objections were raised in Daighar but the issue remains unresolved there In the past month we have witnessed garbage dumping resuming at another plot in Diva Amid all this there have been intermittent fire incidents at the old dumping site in Diva Though these fires are small the fumes and smoke released are causing health issues for residentsrdquolsquoNo designated landfillrsquoEnvironmentalist Stalin D director of NGO Vanashakti said ldquoThe TMC is indiscriminately dumping garbage at multiple locations including Kalwa Kolshet Anjur Diva and Kasheli I have identified 10 illegal dumping locations in Diva alone and have taken the matter to the NGTrdquoAccording to Stalin the core issue is that TMC has no designated landfill for proper waste disposal yet it faces constant pressure from builders to clear garbage from urban areas ldquoAcquiring land for a landfill requires systematic planning and effort which is clearly lacking Instead TMC is focused on keeping city areas clean while dumping waste in rural regions effectively causing problems for these areas as the dumping is not done systematically This is not just about one or two sites there are multiple illegal dumping grounds Regarding the fires at these dumps the blaze at the old closed Diva dumping ground could have been triggered by high temperatures due to the heavy presence of methane However fires at the newer active dumping sites are highly suspicious and warrant further investigationrdquo he saidTMCSpeakManish Joshi deputy municipal commissioner solid waste management at the TMC refuted allegations of deliberate fires and illegal dumping ldquoWe are taking preventive measures such as covering waste with sand using localised water pumps and conducting awareness programmes for rag pickersrdquo he stated Regarding claims of resumed dumping at Diva Joshi denied any such activities were taking place1039 TNAmount of municipal solid waste generated daily in Thane