‘Reality Different From Action On Paper’: Bombay HC Slams BMC Over Garbage Inaction

Mumbai's Bombay High Court on Monday slammed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for their failure to address the city's garbage crisis, highlighting a stark contrast between the corporation's official statements and the actual state of public streets. The court, comprising Justices Girish Kulkarni and Neela Gokhale, expressed dissatisfaction with the BMC's handling of street waste and issued a stern warning about the consequences of continued inaction.

Inquiry into BMC's Garbage Management The bench questioned the BMC Commissioner about the concrete steps being taken to prevent waste accumulation on public roads, accusing the civic body of merely relying on paper claims while failing to implement effective solutions. The court observed that streets in every civic ward were littered with garbage, criticizing ward officers for neglecting their duties.

High Court Directs BMC To Action The court's warnings came during the hearing of multiple petitions, including one filed by the Kanjurmarg CHS Association Ltd, which raised serious concerns over the adverse health impacts of foul odors, toxic gas emissions, and severe pollution in the Kanjurmarg dumping ground area. The BMC responded to the court's scrutiny by filing an affidavit outlining their regulatory compliance measures, including the enforcement of the recently enacted Solid Waste (Management & Handling) Cleanliness and Sanitation Bye-Laws, 2025.

Mitigation Measures Detailed The affidavit detailed several mitigation steps, such as increased bio-enzyme application, expanded misting cannon coverage, improved soil cover on inactive landfill cells, seasonal deodorant adjustments during winter evenings, and enhanced civic complaint redressal mechanisms with mobile monitoring tracking.

The BMC also highlighted their integration of ward-level inspection teams into a mobile-based monitoring network to track waste collection vehicles, clear illegal dumping sites, and log public complaints in real time. Court Adjourns Matter for Further Update The Bombay High Court adjourned the matter to Thursday, instructing the Municipal Commissioner to submit a comprehensive update on the actual enforcement actions and punitive measures taken against street littering issues.