Maharashtra Security Force will guard Deonar dumping ground

In the wake of four major fire incidents at the Deonar dumping ground in Govandi this year, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to deploy officers of the Maharashtra Security Force (MSF) inside and at the entry and exit points of the dump yard.

According to senior civic officials, soon private security guards will be removed from the site and MSF security personnel will be deployed along with BMC guards. The civic body has planned to deploy 80 MSF guards that will work in three shifts. A formal proposal by the Solid Waste Management (SWM) department has been sent to the accounts department for approval.

Also read: 30MW electricity can be generated from Deonar dumping ground waste

A senior official from the SWM department, who is handling the dumping ground said, "The major relief would be unlike other private security agencies, MSF has the power to arrest people under the Maharashtra State Security Corporation Act, 2010 and they can pursue police cases on its own. In case of BMC and private guards, they can only detain people who try to enter the dumping ground illegally. For police case and arrest, senior civic officials have to step in. This also delays the process."

The official added, "Many a times people caught by private security guards have alleged that they were innocent and were being framed for triggering fire in the dumping ground. As MSF is a government agency, there will be no chance of such controversies."

Prohibited area
After the fire incidents this year, acting on a complaint filed by BMC, Mumbai Police arrested nine scrap dealers for instigating rag pickers to trigger fire in the dumping site so that they get the metals and other useful materials. The civic body had also declared the dumping ground a ‘Prohibited Area' banning the entry of rag pickers.

Official Speak
Deputy municipal commissioner, (SWM), Vijay Balamvar confirmed the development and said, "We are in the process of finalising the amount required for the contract. Once it is done, MSF security guards will take over the dumping ground."

However, local corporator Rais Shaikh from Samajwadi Party alleged that BMC has failed to fulfill its promise of undertaking a number of steps to prevent fire in the dumping ground, like building a boundary wall and installing CCTV cameras.

He further said, "Due to the frequent fires at the ground, many people have lost their lives and some others suffered from health and respiratory problems."

"Only 17 CCTV cameras have been installed and work on the remaining 40 is yet to start. Also, construction of the boundary wall has not been completed. The civic body claims that only 10 per cent of the work is left, which will be completed within a week."

Major fires this year
This year four major fire incidents took place at the Deonar dumping ground on January 28, February 11 & 14 and March 19. This has led to the death of many and some have suffered from respiratory problems due to the toxic gas.