Mumbai: BMC works with Kadamwadi residents on long-term plan to curb open garbage dumping

The garbage dumping spot near Nagrik Stores in Kadamwadi, Santacruz East. Pic/By Special Arrangement

Days after mid-day highlighted residents' complaints about an open garbage dumping spot in Kadamwadi, Santacruz East, the BMC's H East ward has begun working with locals on a longer-term solution. The spot near Nagrik Stores had become a regular dumping point, with residents complaining of crows during the day and rats at night.

The civic body inspected and cleaned the area after the report. During the visit, six shops were fined Rs 200 each and one was fined Rs 500 for dumping waste, according to receipts seen by mid-day. Residents say the problem has persisted despite repeated attempts over the past two years to work with the BMC.

What is BMC doing?

Following the initial inspection, residents said a BMC official returned to observe the dumping activity. Pais said he joined the official and counted about 100 people throwing garbage at the spot over roughly 5½ hours.

"Just a day or two after the first inspection, we saw that a BMC official had come to the spot. I joined them, and in the span of about 5 and half hours, a total of 100 people threw garbage, and that led us to assume that there could easily be 400 people throwing garbage here in the whole day maybe."

Pais said that after he raised the issue with officials, he received a response saying night-shift staff would be deployed to monitor the area. Pais further said that the residents were also told that a fixed time for the garbage collection van would be announced so households could hand over their waste accordingly.

The problem

Two years
Residents say they have been trying to address the dumping problem with the BMC

One open dumping spot
Near Nagrik Stores in Kadamwadi

1800+ chawls
Approximate number in the wider Kadamwadi area, according to residents

100 people in 5½ hours
Observed by local resident Ivan Pais during one BMC monitoring exercise

Locals tried to stop it

Residents and members of the St Anthony's Street Welfare Association had earlier tried several measures, including installing flower pots at the spot to discourage people from dumping garbage. The BMC also increased garbage collection in the area, residents said. However, Pais said the rodent problem continued.

The 5-point plan

A meeting between residents and BMC officials was held on Monday to discuss ways of preventing the dumping from recurring. According to Pais, the suggestions discussed included:

1. More garbage collectors
Increase the number of staff covering Kadamwadi, given the area's large number of chawls.

2. Chawl-wise accountability
Create a contact system for each chawl so residents can help deter open dumping.

3. Monitor collection staff
Ensure garbage collectors are covering all houses and carrying out their duties properly.

4. Enforce fines
Take action against people who dump waste in the open.

5. Put up signage
Install BMC signs warning people against dumping garbage at the spot.

Residents want a system, not another cleanup

The latest discussions mark a shift from simply clearing the garbage to trying to prevent it from accumulating again. "The meeting and its overall objective was that we all work in collaboration to keep our area clean; the points discussed were suggestions that we had, and we look forward to having a better system in place in our area," said Ivan Pais, resident and member, St Anthony's Street Welfare Association.