Mumbai: M/East Ward Reports Most Cases Of Open Garbage Burning & Dumping Illegal Debris

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has registered 142 cases against people who burnt garbage in the open in Mumbai between November 2023 and February 10, 2024. A sum of INR 61,900 was collected in penalty over the same violation.

However, the civic body has received 111 complaints of garbage burning in the last three months till February 9, 2024.

Besides these complaints, the civic body have been taking action by identifying violators ourselves and registering cases against offenders.

This was witnessed ever since the BMC launched a new feature on its hotline number 8169681697, which enabled citizens to lodge complaints related to open garbage.

The maximum such cases were registered in M/East ward which encompasses Deonar, Mankhurd etc., where 32 cases were registered, followed by 27 cases in P/North ward which includes Malad and 15 cases in R/South, which includes Kandivali.

During the same period, the civic body also registered 489 cases against dumping of unauthorised construction and demolition debris and slapped a penalty of INR 26.36 lakh against violators. A sum of INR 40.44 lakh was collected in penalty against 1,368 violators for failing to keep their premises clean under the Swachh Angan (clean premises) programme.

Maximum number of cases of unauthorised construction debris were registered in S ward (Bhandup) at 217, followed by 88 cases in M/East ward.

The Swachh Mumbai WhatsApp Helpline, which enabled residents to register complaints related to waste management in Mumbai through messaging app, was launched on June 7 by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Since its launch, 2,200 complaints have been registered over debris at construction sites, while 8,200 grievances have been recorded.

However, it was only in November, at the behest of the CM, that citizens were allowed to raise grievances pertaining to open garbage burning.

For the first time in 17 years, after its solid waste management bylaws were approved in 2006, the BMC, starting November 2023, had mandated a penalty of INR 100 and registering of cases for burning garbage in the open.