The deployment of machinery comes in the wake of Bombay High Court directives to monitor and study emissions of gases, including methane, which trigger late-night odour in surrounding neighbourhoods. Raising alarms over the health impact of toxic gases affecting lakhs of residents in Mulund, Vikhroli and Bhandup, the High Court issued directives on Monday while hearing pleas filed by residents from the Kannamwar Cooperative Housing Society Association Ltd and NGO Vanashakti.
Earlier, on April 25, the High Court judges visited the Kanjurmarg dumping site after the bench on April 24 pulled up the Maharashtra government and the BMC for what it termed an “extremely casual approach” toward waste management at the ground.
Taking cognisance of the High Court directives, the BMC on Tuesday deployed a monitoring van that has started measuring pollutants ranging from PM10 to Ozone (O3) to ascertain the causes behind the persistent odour at the site. Officials stated that the THC analyzer, which assesses methane levels, is currently under repair and is scheduled to become operational by Thursday.
According to senior civic officials, a site supervisor will also be stationed at the site to monitor odour levels around the dumping ground at least twice daily. The supervisor has been tasked with maintaining all observations in an “odour diary”. Monitoring will be conducted at regular intervals while the site remains operational, with additional monitoring permitted in case of potential odour problems to assess factors such as malodorous waste and foul surface water issues.
During observations, the site supervisor has also been directed to gauge weather conditions and maintain records of easterly or westerly winds, which determine wind direction and the spread of odour in nearby residential areas. Officials said the supervisor will be required to enter results of monitoring and remedial measures into an active log book, including details related to precipitation, temperature, wind speed and wind direction.
The intensified monitoring exercise marks a significant administrative response to growing judicial scrutiny over environmental and public health concerns surrounding the Kanjurmarg dumping ground, which continues to impact residents across Mulund, Vikhroli and Bhandup.
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