Request to ban new Construction activity in Thane

ALERT CITIZENS FORUM OF INDIA

A7/303, Saket CHSL, Saket Marg, Thane (W) 400601 3 8879528575

March 1, 2016

The Hon. Municipal Commissioner,

Thane Municipal Corporation,

Thane.

Dear Sir,

In a landmark judgement, the Mumbai High Court has banned new constructions in Mumbai w.e.f. March 1, 2016, i.e. today.

This has been done due to the failure of the State Govt. and BMC to solve the city's dumping ground problem.

Observing that ' a pollution free environment' is a fundamental right, the Honourable Court observed that compliance with Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) rules appeared to be a distant dream, the High Court told the BMC not to process any applications for new or commercial projects.

Sir, now lets us have a look at Thane.

Municipal Solid Waste.

The Solid Waste generation in the TMC area is around 700 MT per day. Solid Waste Management of Thane Municipal Corporation managed as per Municipal Solid Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2000 & Chapter 18 of Bombay Provincial Municipal Corporation Act. Collection of the waste in the city, Cleaning Transport & Disposal of the Waste is the prime important duty of the corporation.

Sadly, the method adopted for collection of the waste - thru ghanta gadi's - is not up to mark with the labour collecting the waste often mixing the dry and wet garbage while collecting it.

The TMC does not have a particular area earmarked as a dumping ground - resulting in the contractors dumping the garbage anywhere at their whims and fancy.

One frequently sees garbage dumped on highways, vacant plots, mangroves etc.

The menace of Plastic

Thane has become a "garbage city" since it generates nearly 92,000 kg of plastic trash daily and there is little scope proper disposal.

The city's population has crossed the 20-lakh mark. Rising economic prosperity and rapid urbanization have inadvertently resulted in huge piles of plastic waste. A major chunk of the untreated rubble is dumped in water bodies like creeks and lakes resulting in clogging of the city drains.

A big concern is the 9,000 kg of trash generated daily comprising plastic containers used by cola manufacturers and bottled water companies. The highest volume of plastic waste is generated by grocery shops and commercial stores that collectively contribute 11,000 kg of waste in the form of carry bags and other packing material.

Nearly 7,000 kg of milk pouches, oil cans and 10,000 kg of cosmetics packaging material, toiletries and toys are dumped everyday. Measures for segregation and recycling of plastic waste are still in the nascent stage.

The accumulation of toxic waste in Thane is due to the negligent attitude of civic officials. There is resistance to change and citizens are unwillingness to spend on separate bins for wet and dry garbage. 

Currently, plastic waste is dumped along with solid waste or is strewn on roads.This practice chokes drains and prevents free flow of rainwater during monsoons, leading to breeding ground for mosquitoes and danger of diseases like leptospyrosis.

Uthalsar generates more than 13,000 kg of plastic trash followed by Naupada and Railadevi. Kopri in Thane (east) and Kalwa generate a lesser amount of such litter. 

Air Pollution

According to a survey carried out by the civic body, the pollution levels in the city has touched a new high due to an increase in construction work and vehicles.The pollution control cell of the corporation, who conducted the 24x7 survey of pollution levels, found that the percentage of hazardous chemicals had increased drastically. The pollution standard index (PSI) in residential areas like Kopri and Shahu Market in Naupada and industrial pockets like Majiwada and Kapurbawdi was in the range of 107 and 115. This means, the pollution level is so high that it could lead to health issues.

This is mainly due to rise in construction activity and vehicular pollution.
Residents living near Mulund dumping ground are the worst affected as the level of pollution crossed 700 PSI. This can be hazardous for those living in Kopri area as well.

Need to ban new Construction Activity

Sir, the construction activity is growing in Thane at a brisk pace. The past 20 years has seen massive urbanisation of Thane City. compared to the pace of the construction activity, the Thane Municipal Corporation has failed to provide infrastructure like specific areas for disposal of Waste and adherence to MSW rules, providing adequate Water - resulting in enforcing severe water cuts across the city.

Going by the Mumbai High Court observation, that a pollution free environment is a fundamental right of citizens, the ALERT CITIZENS FORUM OF INDIA demands that the Thane Municipal Corporation should initiate immediate measures to tackle and solve the above highlighted problems of Waste Management, Air pollution, Tackling the Plastic Menace and provide a pollution free environment to Thane residents. 

Till then, the TMC should ban all new construction activity in the city and stop processing any applications for new residential or commercial projects.

We hope that in the interest of all Thanekars, you shall yeild to our demand.

Regards,

For ALERT CITIZENS FORUM OF INDIA,

Dayanand Nene

President.

Members of Governing Council: Jitendra Satpute, Prasad Bedekar, Kiran Joshi, Sandhya Malhotra, Anil Ghodke.