Bombay HC pulls up officials over pollution in Kanjurmarg

Mumbai, April 24: The Bombay High Court has warned of shutting down the Kanjurmarg dumping ground, criticising the Maharashtra government and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation for their approach to pollution and public health risks.

A bench of Justices Girish Kulkarni and Aarti Sathe observed that continued violations of the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution could invite strict action, including closure of the site.

“It is high time that we value human lives. We will pass a detailed order... There would be no alternative but to stop this dumping site,” the court said.

The bench was hearing a batch of petitions citing pollution, foul odour, gas emissions and health concerns affecting residents near the dumping ground.

Referring to methane emissions from the site, the court noted that the gas is significantly more harmful than carbon dioxide and said the impact of such emissions, attributed to mismanagement by authorities, required assessment.

The bench directed authorities to examine available research and adopt scientific mitigation measures, observing that decades of temporary measures had failed to address the issue and describing the site as the “worst dumping ground”.

It directed the state government and the civic body to file affidavits detailing steps taken to curb pollution.

The matter has been posted for further hearing on Monday.