23 December,2022 05:58 AM IST | Mumbai | The Editorial
Smoke rises from a chimney of the Govandi medical waste treatment plant. File pic
Days after a proposal seeking an environmental clearance to shift a bio-medical waste treatment plant from Govandi to Khalapur in Raigad district was delisted, locals came forward and filed an online petition. Citizens are also seeking a dialogue with the chief minister to gain clarity about their case.
The residents, in their online petition addressed to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, the BMC and the ministry of environment and climate change, Maharashtra, had said they were being treated worse than animals and that the government looks at the citizens of Govandi as guinea pigs. Not only do they have an ever-expanding dumping ground at Deonar, but there are also multiple projects in the works. A waste-to-energy plant is in the pipeline which residents and environmentalists have been opposing vehemently. Three animal incinerators might come up, exacerbating the already high pollution levels.
The petition, on Change.org, got 978 signatures in a day, as against their target of 1,000 signatures.
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For years, the locals of Govandi, Deonar and Mankhurd have been saying that the medical waste treatment plant has been spewing toxic smoke, posing health hazards. Though there were earlier orders that the plant be relocated, this has been delayed.
Instead of petitions, conversations with citizen representatives, local leaders and environmentalists are needed. With that, investigations into how the plant is impacting people's health must happen. Then, a solid decision must be taken about moving the facility, if it is causing huge problems, must be taken.
It is shocking that citizens are talking about being abandoned and treated like guinea pigs. Give them an ear and take action if needed. Files doing the merry-go-round and complete silence is criminal in this case. We need a team to get cracking, operating on the maxim âbetter late than never'.
