The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) has been directed to undertake slope stabilisation of the widely spread illegal debris land, ad-measuring around 12 cubic meters of debris, a of the Aarey Dairy Colony land, which will subsequently be transformed into a public park or green area to ensure environmental protection and conservation.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) was hearing a petition filed by NGO Vanshakti regarding the illegal dumping of debris on land that falls under the jurisdiction of Aarey Milk Colony.
While deciding on the petition, the NGT referred to a meeting held in May 2024, where the Chief Secretary questioned representatives of the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) about the potential damage to the Mithi River due to debris dumping.
According to the NGT order, NEERI and MPCB clarified that while the debris does not directly impact the Mithi River, its presence poses environmental challenges.
The order stated: “The MPCB conducted a site visit on May 10, 2024, and observed that a solid surface had formed on the debris. The Chief Executive Officer of Aarey informed that the affected site belongs to Aarey and not the Forest Department. The Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules, 2016, do not permit debris disposal through dumping. Therefore, it was recommended that the debris be scientifically disposed of.”
The order further mentions that the removal of approximately 12 lakh cubic meters of debris and its transportation to another location would be challenging due to the potential risk of pollution during the process.
“It was decided that no further dumping should take place on the site and that tree plantations should be carried out in the area. It was unanimously agreed that the site should be conserved and developed into a public park with green cover,” reads the minutes of the meeting submitted before the NGT.
The MCGM and other authorities informed the NGT that, since the land falls under Aarey’s jurisdiction, its administration was responsible for the area.
However, the Aarey administration expressed its inability to carry out the necessary work and agreed to hand over the land to MCGM for public park and green cover development. The petitioner also supported the Committee’s recommendation for the project, including slope stabilization before further development.
After reviewing the correspondence between the authorities, the NGT noted that Aarey had confirmed its lack of machinery and funds to clear 12 lakh cubic meters of debris and level the land for a public park and green area.
“The Chief Secretary, in a meeting held on May 27, 2024, directed that the land should be transferred to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation for the development of a public park and green area. Accordingly, the Revenue Department has agreed to transfer possession of the said land to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation,”read the order copy. Thus ith this direction, the MCGM will now take over the site and begin work on green cover restoration and public park development.
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