Debris Being Dumped Under The Ploy Of Developing A Garden!

With the quantum of garbage in Mumbai increasing by the day and the steady enhancement in the production of debris due to growing housing complexes, the problem of waste pile-up has become a severe problem in the land-starved city. Secondly, with Mulund dumping ground declared closed, builders in Mulund are in a fix to dump the daily debris generated at their construction sites. Thus, to seek an alternate solution, some wily builders’ lobbies have hijacked a state-owned land at the residential quarters premises of ESIS Hospital in Mulund West and, under the ploy of developing a garden, they are cunningly dumping their debris!

Home Times, in its exclusive investigation survey, detected a mammoth 70 to 80 tons of debris being dumped on a daily basis in this open land! Regular dumping of the debris is thus causing an intense problem to the local residents!! Residents informed Home Times that the illegitimate business of dumping debris is being carried out since the past 15-20 days. Gajendra Guram, a technician by profession, told, “Since the past two weeks, I have been observing the continuous dumping of debris at the ground. As a result of the dumping, the drainage pipe had recently burst, causing great hardship to commuters walking on LBS Road.” He added, “In the past 20 days, the waste has accumulated to a gigantic height of approximately 24 to 30 feet (i.e. second floor of a building).”

Irritated at the dumping of the debris, Gajendra lamented, “The worst affected by the dumping of debris are the senior citizens and the kids in the area. We have lodged written complaints with the BMC T-Ward concerned officials, but they have given a deaf ear to such a grave issue.”

Dr. Madan Wathore, the ex-Medical Superintendent of ESIS Hospital living in the same locality, told Home Times, “The environment is adversely being affected due to the dumping of the debris. Due to the haphazard dumping of the debris, many trees are being damaged and many are killed! What is worse, the place is also becoming a den of anti-social elements.”

Interestingly, the dumping of the debris is being done with the permission (sic) of the Medical Superintendent of ESIS Hospital. This chilling fact came to light when local residents confronted Dr. Ganesh Jadhav, Medical Superintendent of ESIS Hospital and urged him to stop this dumping. However, to their utter dismay, Dr. Jadhav turned them away saying the dumping is being done with his permission!! However, local residents allege there is an evil nexus between the Medical Superintendent of ESIS Hospital and the contractor!!

Rajni Guram, another resident annoyed at the dumping, told Home Times, “From morning till dusk, umpteen number of trucks dump debris at the ground. As a result, people are fed up of the dust and dirt. Many people are suffering from infections and respiratory ailments.”
Subhash Solanke, a local resident said, “I fear a massive scam is under way because when we demanded the Medical Superintendent of ESIS Hospital to display the ‘permission’ documents of the government he maintained silence. This clearly indicates large scale corruption is in progress!”

Home Times Meets Dr. Ganesh Jadhav, the Medical Superintendent of ESIS Hospital
When Home Times met Dr. Ganesh Jadhav, the Medical Superintendent of ESIS Hospital he turned us down citing the garden is being constructed by the permission of the BMC T-Ward Assistant Commissioner. Though Dr. Jadhav had no legal documents to establish his statement, nevertheless, he said, “The place has been reserved for a garden since long. Now it has got permission. It is a noble work as the new garden will be a boon for the citizens and children.”

When Home Times quizzed Dr. Jadhav as to why the locals were not informed about the upcoming garden, he said, “A local social activist Rajput had suggested me to develop a garden at this place. When I took the issue with the commissioner, he gave me a verbal nod.” Responding to the local’s allegation that the place has been dumped with excess debris than required for the garden? Dr. Jadhav, shrugging his shoulder, said, “Well, I will confirm with Rajput, as he is doing the garden work.”

In our exclusive investigation, Home Times also detected another place inside the residential quarters of ESIS Hospital, where a piece of land has been covered by layers of debris. Throwing light on this query, Dr. Jadhav said, “A few months back a dead body was found in this premise hence the PWD officials had carried out leveling of the land.” However, local residents reject Dr. Jadhav’s argument and maintain that illegal debris dumping is even carried out even at that spot!

It may be noted that local residents have lodged a written complaint to the Commissioners of both the BMC and the ESIS Hospital but still, there is no action!!

Interestingly, after Home Times intervened in the matter, the dumping of debris was immediately stopped! Though with the stopping of the debris the residents have heaved a sigh of relief, but they are wondering who will remove the debris?? People are also asking when the concerned authorised will punish the accused in this illegal dumping!!