Villagers in Taloja oppose shifting of Deonar dumping site

Smog from a fire at the Deonar garbage disposal ground last week has led to severe respiratory problems for area residents

The Maharashtra government will soon hold a meeting with concerned government departments and stakeholders to resolve the issue of Deonar dumping site, Minister of State for Urban Development Dr Ranjit Patil said on Wednesday.

However, villagers in Taloja, Navi Mumbai have opposed the proposed shifting of the garbage disposal ground there.

"No village would want a dumping site near its periphery. I have heard that gram sabhas near Taloja are opposing the move of shifting of Deonar dumping zone in that area and are passing resolutions in this regard. Government will soon hold a meeting to resolve the issue," Patil said.

He admitted that the Deonar landfill site has already crossed its permitted capacity.

State Chief Secretary Swadheen Kshatriya also said that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was concerned about the issue and that it would be sorted out.

Kshatriya added that there were some proposals from industries to use the solid waste to generate power.

On Tuesday, Mumbai NCP unit president Sachin Ahir led party members in a demonstration against the continuation of the Deonar site, saying the issue has assumed alarming proportions.

"The previous Congress-NCP regime had constituted a committee comprising former BMC municipal commissioner Sharad Kale and experts like Ajit Jain and BMC officials. What action was taken on the findings of the committee?" he questioned.

Mumbai residents, particularly those in the Deonar region, have suffered from severe respiratory problems after a fire at the Deonar dumping ground created a blanket of smog that engulfed the city.