Mumbai: 3-4 people charged at me when I went to the spot, says civic official

The plot at Veera Desai Industrial Estate in Andheri West before and after mid-day’s coverage. Pics/Prasun Choudhari

Hours after mid-day exposed how truckloads of debris were being dumped for more than six months at Veera Desai Industrial Estate in Andheri West, the authorities finally cracked down on the menace, causing residents to heave a sigh of relief.

mid-day, on January 8, in its report ‘50 trucks dump debris here' shed light on the environmental and health hazards posed by the unchecked disposal of debris at the spot, leading to an outcry from the local community. Residents, who had been grappling with the detrimental effects of the illegal activity for an extended period, are finally relieved. The closure of the site marks a significant step towards restoring a healthier and more sustainable living environment.

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

When this reporter visited the location on Wednesday, he observed that dust levels were significantly lower than before. Harshwardhan Patil, a resident, said, "We were fed up with the illegal dumping ground. We could not open our windows for months as dust would immediately enter our houses when we tried to let in fresh air." He added that the site was cleared within 36 hours of mid-day publishing its report.

Nikhil Parmar, another resident, said, "I live on the top floor of my building. The dust issue had gotten out of hand. We had approached the BMC and the police several times, but no action was taken for months."

‘Faced harassment'

Varun Rajpal, a resident, said, "When people working on the dumping site came to know that we had approached the police, they started harassing us by keeping an eye on our activities and warning us against approaching the authorities. Now, the site has been cleared. We are so relieved."

Rama Sharma, a senior citizen, said, "My husband, B K Sharma and I are octogenarians. it had become very difficult for us even to get down in our society for walks because of the dust. Also, we had to live in a suffocated environment as the windows of our houses needed to be kept constantly closed. Today [January 10] was the first time since the COVID period that we went down for a walk." She added, "We can now enjoy a breath of fresh air without the constant threat of dust inhalation."

B K Sharma and (right) Rama Sharma

Another resident said, "Our concerns were finally heard, and the cleanup has brought about a positive change. We can now live without the constant worry of health hazards associated with the illegal dumping site."

Civic action

To make sure that the illegal dumping site is not restarted, the BMC has written a letter to the police station concerned as well as the RTO department. Assistant Engineer Panaskar of the solid waste management department, said, "We have written a letter to the police as well as RTO officials to increase surveillance in the vicinity and take action against any such activities."

Describing his experience visiting the spot to check on the illegal activities, he added, "Initially, when I had visited the plot to check on its activities, three to four people came running towards me. I was alone, which was terrifying. This made me leave the spot immediately. Later we wrote to the police about the situation."

Kushal Dhuri, a local MNS activist, told mid-day, "There is a noticeable difference in air quality. Visibility, too, has improved in the locality. Earlier, we were not able to see very far through the swirls of dust. There were high chances of a fatal accident occurring but now that the debris is cleared, the visibility is very good and it feels safe to travel on a two-wheeler."