The Hindu Business Line : Mithi toxic wastes dumped in the open

Truckloads of toxic sediments removed from the Mithi river are being dumped in the open space near Kanjurmarg in the eastern suburb of Mumbai, ignoring the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board's warning.

The sludge, which is being dredged from Mithi, contains heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, nickel and zinc. Over 100 truckloads of toxic material are emptied to the open space everyday.

According to pollution control board guidelines, lime and fly ash treatment is mandatory before disposing such hazardous waste to the open space. But enquires reveal that no such treatment is carried out in the case of materials dredged out of Mithi river.

It is also learnt that the civic authorities are now considering dumping the silt, in the abandoned quarries in the Powai area, a sensitive ecological zone, home to the IIT and close to Borivali National Park.

On March 8, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board had written a letter to both Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority and the Municipal Commissioner, Mumbai, who are now undertaking the work of cleaning the river, warning them of the risk in dumping the hazardous material in the open space.

Contents of letter

MPCB letter said "in the last week we have collected samples of sediments/sludge from the Mithi river, from three places, that is, Santacruz-Kalina, Bandra-Kurla complex and Mahim-Bandra bridge. It may be seen from the results obtained that the sediments contains highly toxic and hazardous chemicals, toxic metals and other compounds.

"As such, this sediment is nothing but hazardous waste as defined in the Hazardous Waste (Management & Handling) Rules, 1989. Therefore, it is the legal responsibility and liability of the concerned authority that is, MMRDA and MCGM that these wastes are disposed in a environmentally sound manner as required under the law," the letter said. "In view of the above, it may be appreciated that the disposal of sediments/sludge removed from Mithi river cannot be simply dumped in low lying areas or abandoned quarries. This sediment definitely contains toxic heavy metals and other compounds making it as hazardous waste. It must be dealt fully in accordance with the provisions contained in the Hazardous Waste (Management & Handling) Rules, 1989, as notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. Unless these precautions are taken, disposal of such huge quantity of the waste will adversely affect the ground water quality by the way of leachets /run offs and other components of the environment in the area. Therefore, as a matter of precautionary principle the sediments /sludge removed from the Mithi river must be handled in an environmentally sound manner as per rules."

Mr Sanjay Bhuskute, Public Relations Officer, MPCB, said the letter has been written to the concerned authorities to place on record the problem of pollutants emanating from the sludge from the Mithi river.

Safe method

According to a hazardous waste management expert, the safe method of treating hazardous waste is to dump the waste in a secured landfill. The landfill bed in this site is lined with clay and plastic sheets so as to prevent the hazardous waste from entering the soil. The runoff water from such a site is also treated in a scientific manner. In the present river cleaning contract, there is no provision for treating hazardous waste, he said.

When contacted Mr Shrikant Singh, Additional Municipal Commissioner, told Business Line that the sludge removal was being done as per schedule and it was handled according to MPCB rules.

He was reluctant to make any other comment.

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