More than 2 lakh residents from Kanjurmarg and Mulund have approached the Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission (SHRC), demanding their “right to breathe clean air” under Article 21 of the Constitution, citing severe air pollution from the Kanjurmarg dumping ground. The petition highlights the unbearable stench and toxic methane emissions, which have led to breathing difficulties, nausea, and sleepless nights for residents.
Advocate Sagar Devre, representing the affected residents, confirmed that a formal complaint has been filed before the SHRC. “We are hopeful that the residents will receive relief in the matter,” he stated.
The Kanjurmarg dumping ground handles 80% of Mumbai’s waste and is one of the city’s largest methane emitters. The site was initially authorized by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) in 2012 to process 1,000 tons per day (TPD) of municipal solid waste (MSW) through windrow composting and 3,000 TPD through bioreactor technology. This capacity was later increased to 6,500 TPD. However, residents argue that the site has become a major health hazard due to mismanagement and violations of waste management rules.
Residents claim that poor waste processing methods at the site are causing severe pollution, affecting over 3 lakh people in Kanjurmarg, Bhandup, Vikhroli, and Mulund East.
“Many residents are experiencing breathing difficulties, nausea, and vomiting due to the foul stench. The release of gases like hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) and methane is increasing the risk of respiratory illnesses and potentially lung cancer. The waste is being shifted and churned at night without proper deodorization, intensifying the stench. The contractor/operator is allegedly not following the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, 2016. The slurry-making area remains uncovered, and no effective odor control systems such as misting or carbon filters have been installed. Also it has impact on the nearby Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary, which is home to thousands of migratory birds,”reads the complaint copy
The petition further reads that the residents have been forced to keep their windows shut and use air fresheners to mitigate the smell. Despite multiple complaints over the years, no long-term solution has been implemented.
The matter will be taken up on board by the SHRC, with explanations sought from several civic as well as pollution control departments.
