Bombay HC Asks BMC To Prepare Long-Term Plan For Kanjurmarg Dumping Ground

Mumbai's High Court has urged the city's Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to create a long-term plan for the Kanjurmarg dumping ground, emphasizing that the authority cannot delay a decision regarding the site near residential areas. A bench led by Justices Girish Kulkarni and Neela Gokhale stressed the necessity of a clear alternative if the court orders an end to the use of the Kanjurmarg site.

The court highlighted the potential difficulty in finding land for waste management facilities in the future, urging the BMC and all relevant state and corporate bodies to have a concrete vision for the future. Kanjurmarg, situated close to a creek and mangrove area, raised concerns about a backup plan, prompting the BMC counsel to confirm that the corporation is preparing for the next two to three decades.

The court also examined a broader issue of garbage hotspots across Mumbai, demanding that the BMC identify and prevent such issues rather than addressing them after waste accumulation. Measures like regular sanitation in slum areas and beautification of public spaces were suggested. While citizen participation was emphasized, the bench acknowledged the residents' role in maintaining cleanliness.

The court also encouraged the BMC to learn from the cleanliness initiatives in cities like Navi Mumbai and Indore. In May 2025, the High Court had reinstated the protected forest status for 119.91 hectares of the Kanjurmarg dumping ground, deeming the 2009 de-notification invalid. Despite this, the BMC was allowed to use the site for three months to identify an alternative, after which the BMC challenged the order in the Supreme Court, which subsequently stayed the High Court's directions.