Cops protest against filth in Mahim

About 300 policemen, from the rank of constables to police inspectors, have signed a petition addressed to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and will submit it to the civic body, protesting against the mini-Deonar dumping ground taking shape in their backyard, near the police quarters at Mahim Reti Bunder. The group is led by a retired police officer who was the senior police inspector of Mahim police station, and Joseph Gaikwad, who lives adjacent to Reti bunder.

The BMC has started dumping about one to two tonnes of waste a day at this site since September, despite the inconvenience it causes to the 300 odd families living in buildings overlooking the creek. Mr Gaikwad claims the civic body has no permissions and clearances for dumping garbage from the nearby houses in the policemen’s backyard, and attempts by the local residents to get the civic body to clear the garbage had proved futile.

“The BMC began to dump garbage there since September and now there are huge heaps. Several youngsters are going there and taking drugs, by hiding behind the mounds of garbage,” said Mr Gaikwad who lives in Gulvilla compound, which is adjacent to the Mahim creek.

Another resident of his building, Riyaz Merchant said, “Members of our society have now begun to complain about breathing and respiratory problems.”

Mr Gaikwad has complained to the solid waste management department of the BMC, additional municipal commissioner Sanjay Deshmukh, and also municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta himself, apart from the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board. Mr Gaikwad said, “Even though Mr Deshmukh took cognisance of our complaint, when I complained to the local ward officer, I was told it was part of a BMC project for waste management.”

Assistant Commissioner of the G North ward, Ramakant Biradar, said, “We are making a waste compost project there. It is not illegal as the land is owned by the BMC. Barely 1-2 tonnes of waste from the neighbourhood goes there, and it is a compost pit.”