A plastic bag dumping ground at your doorstep
Nasser Lalljee Thane

THE Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has created a dumping ground between the Thane Toll Naka and the Mulund Toll Plaza on the Eastern Express Highway resulting a two square km area to be swamped by plastic bags. The area falls in Mulund district’s T Ward, right at the doorstep of Thane.

When contacted earlier, Assistant Municipal Commissioner Marathe had no clue of plastic bags being dumped in the area and asked this reporter to contact the Head Superintendent Godhake, who admitted that the dump was being created.

According to Dr Kendre, in charge of Solid Waste Management, Thane, “We have not received any complaints. In Mumbai, more than 6,000 metric tones of garbage are disposed off every day. For complete disposal for such a huge amount of garbage, would require close to Rs 500 crore a year.”

Dr Haneef Panwalla of Thane who practices in Mumbra says, “The road between Mumbra and the Thane-Bhiwandi Bypass Toll Nake was beautifully lined with green treen trees on both sides. But after this plastic bag and rubbish dump came up, the trees on the side of the dump have no leaves while the ones on the other side are still have foliage. When plastic burns, the effect on the respiratory system of human being is horrendous.” According to Dr Rajesh Sawla of Thane, dry plastic bags are not detrimental to health but wet plastic bags are.

The trees near this dumping ground are watered, so thus creating a wet ground and consequently wetting the dumped plastic bags that Dr Sawla is worried about. Also when it rains, the ground will be wet. This wet mixture will encourage the growth of the Candid fungus, which is carried by animals. This dump will inevitably invite rodents that may bite humans and transmit diseases. Cows feeding on this dump will also act as transmitters of the Candid fungus and disease when they come in contact with human beings and other animals.

But according to Godhake, trees are being planted in the dumping ground to enhance the beauty of the place and make it eco-friendly. Though this exercise will help to hide the mess from the public eye, the authorities are turning a blind eye to the health hazards that will arise from the situation.