Mumbai: Removal of garbage near Govandi school begins after Mid-Day report

A excavator is used to clear garbage near the Mumbai Public School building in Govandi on Wednesday. PICS/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

After mid-day's report on August 8 highlighting the state of disarray outside Mumbai Public School, Natwar Parekh Compound, Govandi, officials from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) solid waste management (SWM) department visited the site to tackle the rubbish and garbage piled up at the school gate. The building was constructed for Govandi's first CBSE school, but it remains inaccessible to more than 600 students because the newly built structure is surrounded by dirt roads and heaps of garbage.

According to members of the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), waste management officials arrived on Friday but could not begin work due to heavy rains. They began cleaning on Monday and continued into Tuesday, clearing a portion of the garbage outside the new CBSE school building, the PTA members said.

"We began work on Monday and set up a JCB, dumper, bobcat and SWM labourers under the supervision of officials to clean out the garbage that surrounded the school in the Natwar Parekh Compound. Within the day we cleared out a large portion. If any more waste remains, the SWM department will take care of it too," said an official from the Solid Waste Department.

However, PTA members say questions remain over who is responsible for removing the construction debris at the site. "If we get the necessary clearance, I can personally help clear the construction debris outside the school," said a parent who also works as a BMC contractor. However, SWM informed that odd articles would be shortly cleared out too.

On August 8, mid-day reported that nearly 600 students enrolled in Govandi's first BMC-run CBSE school, MPS CBSE Natwar Parekh Compound, still attend classes at a neighbouring BMC school despite having a brand-new building allotted to them. The delay was caused by the surrounding garbage and poor access roads. While garbage clearance is underway, parents and school officials are still waiting for clarity on the creation of the recommended nine-metre access roads to the building.