Joint committee reports severe risk of landslides and contamination, expert assistance sought for environmental damage assessment
The dumping site in Aarey Milk Colony along the Mithi river
In an important order, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the removal of illegally dumped debris near the Mithi river in Aarey Milk Colony, which is adjacent to the Jogeshwari Vikhroli Link Road (JVLR) stretch. A joint committee appointed by the NGT conducted a site visit on July 18 and raised concerns about the debris posing risks to the Mithi river through landslides and contamination.
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The joint committee visit report is available with mid-day. The NGT had constituted the panel, including representatives from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, collector-Mumbai Suburban, and Maharashtra Pollution Control Board Mumbai, as per its order dated July 3. The land in question falls under the jurisdiction and possession of the CEO of Aarey Milk Colony and comes under the municipal jurisdiction of S ward, as confirmed by the revenue records.
During the inspection, the committee studied the site on both sides of the river, i.e., the Tapeshwar Mandir (western bank) side and the area alongside JVLR. The committee’s report states that an area 750 metres long, 80 metres wide and 20 metres high is affected by the dumped debris and mud. The BMC will be responsible for quantifying the dumped material and assessing the cost of its removal. A tentative assessment by BMC officials suggests that around 12 lakh cubic metres of debris have been dumped at the site, which falls under the municipal jurisdiction of S ward. The committee categorised the damage as ‘severe.’ The report also mentioned the possibility of buried trees under the debris and recommended satellite imagery to ascertain the situation better.
The committee recommended the involvement of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)/National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) for scientific restoration work. It emphasised the need for prioritised removal of the dumped material within a limited time frame and the restoration of vegetation at the site.
In an order dated July 20, the NGT heard from the counsel Manasi Joshi, representing respondent No.2/MPCB, who informed them about the site visit by the joint committee and the ongoing preparation of an interim report. The terms of reference required assessing environmental damage related to water pollution, ecological damage, health impacts on nearby residents, hydrological changes, etc, and quantifying the damage where possible. However, the committee requested four more weeks to file its report, as it lacked the necessary expertise for assessing environmental damage and sought assistance from an expert agency of its choice, which the NGT allowed.
The applicant’s counsel highlighted that during the site inspection, huge debris was found dumped near the banks of the Mithi river, close to Tapeshwar Mandir. They urged respondent No.1/BMC to clear the debris within two weeks to prevent heavy pollution of the river during the monsoon season.
Environmentalist say
Environmentalist Stalin D from NGO Vanashakti said, “The magnitude of debris is so immense that it may take months to remove it.” He stressed the urgency of initiating the process at once. A joint site visit was conducted by MPCB, BMC, and SDO from the collector’s office, confirming the occurrence of illegal dumping. Stalin also pointed out that nearly one km of the area had been subjected to dumping (850 metres long, 80 metres wide, and 25 metres high). “The dumping along JVLR was done in a way that it remains hidden from the road, and approximately 4 lakh metric tonnes of dumped material needs removal,” he added.
July 18
Day site visit was conducted
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