Mumbai: Andheri residents claim Veera Desai Industrial Estate is hotspot for illegal debris dumping

Construction debris is dumped on the plot opposite Crest Mukta Building at Veera Desai Industrial Estate in Andheri; (right) trucks laden with debris on Veera Desai Road. Pics/Prasun Choudhari

Amid Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's citywide deep cleaning initiative, Veera Desai Industrial Estate in Andheri has become a hotspot for illegal debris dumping, raising concerns among locals who are grappling with escalating environmental and health hazards.

The illegal dumping site, opposite Crest Mukta Building, has turned into a breeding ground for discontent as over 50 trucks laden with debris flood the area between 7 am and 10 am daily and empty their contents on the plot. Residents, local shop owners and commuters are now faced with an onslaught of dust and pollutants, leading to a growing sense of frustration.

Construction debris is dumped on the plot at Veera Desai Industrial Estate in Andheri West. Pic/Prasun Choudhari

This reporter visited the site on Friday and Sunday to witness the alarming scale of the problem. Despite the evident environmental impact and complaints from locals, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has not addressed the issue. The lack of intervention has left everyone questioning the efficacy of the BMC's responsiveness and raised concerns about the potential long-term consequences of unchecked illegal dumping.

‘BMC just standing by'

Locals have taken it upon themselves to alert the BMC about the illegal dumping activities, providing evidence of the escalating problem through letters. However, the absence of any visible response from the civic body has fuelled frustrations, prompting residents to seek urgent action.

"I wrote to the K West ward office about this issue on December 29, 2023, but no action has been taken. The dumping of debris raises an ample amount of dust, making it difficult for regular commuters to see long distances. At the end of the day, one can see a layer of dust formed on the roads," said Kushal Dhuri, a commuter.

A local shopkeeper, requesting anonymity due to the fear of consequences his business would face, said "Initially, we thought that a construction project was taken up at the site. Later, as we saw the trucks coming in every day for more than six months, we realised that no such work was going on there."

Another shopkeeper requesting anonymity said, "We are not sure what goes on inside the plot. We just see trucks filled with debris going inside and when they come out, they are empty. The only thing visible inside the plot is a JCB machine, which works continuously as each truck enters and empties its load. We are facing a lot of dust-related issues. The site has started functioning during the COVID period and every day, more than 50 trucks come and empty the debris here. What happens to the dumped debris, none of us know."

ActivistSpeak

Advocate Godfrey Pimenta, a civic rights activist, said, "Authorities have become ignorant. Whatever the public redressal grievance system, it is rarely followed. This results in violators carrying out their activities freely without any objections from the authorities."

He added, "I have written an email to the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) regarding the illegal debris dumping issue."

His email read, "We are writing to bring to your attention a grave environmental concern that has been persistently affecting the residents of Crest Mukta Building on Veera Desai Road. Since March 2020, the residents have been grappling with severe respiratory issues due to the daily dumping of construction debris in front of their building. Numerous trucks transport debris from various construction sites to this location, resulting in not only daily air pollution but also the accumulation of a significant amount of debris on Veera Desai Road. Despite repeated complaints lodged with the K West ward office, there has been a blatant lack of action against the air polluters. Distressingly, the K West ward office has become notorious for its inaction against such environmental offenders."

The email demanding immediate action by the CPCB, MPCB and BMC officials continued, "In light of the seriousness of this matter, we demand the immediate intervention of the concerned BMC and MPCB officials. We urge you to address this issue on a war footing, taking necessary steps to curb the daily dumping of debris and enforce strict measures against those responsible for causing air pollution in the area. The health and well-being of the residents are at stake, and swift action is crucial to mitigate the adverse effects of this environmental hazard."

A letter written by Kushal Dhuri in Marathi, addressed to Deputy Municipal Commissioner Prithviraj Chauhan of BMC K West ward, stated, "Locals and people commuting to work in the area are facing a lot of issues due to the dust rising in the air. There are chances of air pollution increasing due to this."
mid-day tried contacting Chauhan, but the deputy municipal commissioner of K West ward did not respond to this reporter's calls or messages by press time.

7am
Time dumping begins

50
No. of trucks that dump debris daily at spot