Mira Bhayandar/Mumbai: Sounding an alarm bell, the archdiocese of Bombay has urged govt authorities to relocate the Uttan dumping ground in Mira Bhayandar, “no longer as a matter of choice but an urgent necessity”, after multiple suspicious fires have endangered the safety and health of local residents. The affected community includes a Catholic population of about 60,000 to 80,000 people.
“The health, safety, and well-being of residents must be prioritised. We call upon the govt and relevant stakeholders to act immediately to prevent further harm to the environment and the people of Uttan,” the archdiocese said in a statement of solidarity Tuesday.
Fr Nigel Barrett, spokesperson for the archdiocese, said, “On the afternoon of Feb 1, the dumping ground situated on a hillock at Dhavgi Village, Bhayandar West, Uttan Pali, was once again engulfed in ferocious flames. This recurring incident has plagued the area for years. The fire, which has become an annual occurrence, has left the locals suspicious, with many believing it is deliberately caused. Last year, a similar incident left fire brigade personnel injured. This year, despite their prompt response, the fire brigade was unable to contain the flames, resulting in thick, toxic smoke spreading across the area.”
Fr Nigel said, “There is urgent need for action. Last year alone, fires broke out eight times, depriving locals of their fundamental right to clean air and now threatening their livelihoods due to the overflow of garbage and leachate. The situation has reached a critical point, and affected communities are demanding immediate action to relocate the dumping ground.”
Meanwhile, hearing a petition filed by Nagri Hakk Sangharsh Samiti, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Tuesday ordered the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Council (MBMC) to make sure that no such incidents occur in the future and also submit its report in a week.
Meanwhile, thick, toxic smoke fills the air at the site. Fr Oscar Mendonca of Our Lady of Bethlehem Church, Dongri, Uttan, claimed that in the last five years, the ground has caught fire 29 times. “Every time, it takes a week for the smoke to clear, damaging the health of residents, polluting fertile land parcels and AQI. (The dump) needs to be shifted,” he said.
“We contained the fire on Saturday itself and did not allow it to spread,” said Sachin Bangar, deputy municipal commissioner, MBMC. “As a long-term option, we have started using chemical sprinklers, which shall reduce the impact of methane gas.”
Fire brigade personnel as well as workers at the dumping ground were seen working without safety gear like gloves or masks.