MPCB complains against AMC over smoke from dump

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has filed a complaint against Amberbath Municipal Council (AMC) regarding cases of smoke arising from open burning of garbage in dumping ground. According to MPCB sources, residents have been complaining about the smoke in B Cabin Road since last year. The MPCB recently filed a case against the civic body in the civil court junior division, Ulhasnagar.

“The dumping ground is not even on a government land and has been operating illegally. There is no disposal of garbage from the grounds, which has now accumulated 20 feet high waste,” said Sachin Kharchane, member of Ambernath Citizens Forum. Last year, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) imposed a ban on open burning of waste, declaring a fine of Rs 25,000 for each incident of bulk waste burning.

“Based on repeated complaints by the residents, we have submitted an official case and it will take a few days to process,” said D.B. Patil, regional officer, MPCB.

Meanwhile adjacent to the dumping ground, the residents have been complaining since Tuesday that the situation has aggravated and that they have been experiencing suffocation and vomiting problems from huge chemical smoke in B Cabin Road. 

Citizens have also registered a complaint in Ambernath police station against chemical manufacturing companies for allegedly discharging chemicals in the open. “The chemical pollution is causing breathing problems, eye irritation and bitter sensation in the mouth,” said Satyajit Burman, member of Ambernath Citizens Forum.  

The AMC said it has forwarded complaints about air pollution from the industries to the MPCB. “We have already forwarded the complaint to the MPCB. Instead of shifting the residential societies, the culprits should be punished,” said Suhas Sawant, sanitation officer, AMC.