BMC cracks down on open dumping, maps 162 hotspots

MUMBAI: Weeks after municipal commissioner Ashwini Bhide began her weekly early morning inspections to review Mumbai’s solid waste management and cleanliness situation, the BMC has identified 162 garbage hotspots and garbage vulnerable points (GVPs) across the city where open dumping is being repeatedly reported.Civic officials said these locations were identified over the past few weeks during inspections and through citizen feedback. Many of these spots aren’t serviced by community bin facilities, and residents have allegedly been dumping waste in the open instead of designated collection points.The BMC has now directed ward offices where these hotspots are located to clear the sites and ensure they do not re-emerge. Ward officials have also been asked to sensitise residents and make proper arrangements for regular garbage lifting from these areas. Officials said the move is aimed at preventing such spots from becoming eyesores and improving overall cleanliness standards. The exercise also comes at a time when Mumbai is preparing for cleanliness assessments as part of its Mumbai Clean League competition.According to the civic body, a garbage vulnerable point (GVP) is a location where waste is repeatedly dumped and accumulates over a prolonged period, requiring intervention by the concerned ward to eliminate the issue. A garbage hotspot refers to a location identified by citizens where waste accumulation is frequently observed, indicating the need for targeted action by ward authorities to prevent further dumping.BMC’s ward-wise list shows that some administrative wards have up to 28 garbage vulnerable points, while some have fewer, such as H West ward, which includes areas of Bandra West, Khar West and Santacruz West with five garbage vulnerable points. “We are working towards giving targets to each administrative ward, and the same will be reviewed by the municipal commissioner on what efforts are being made to clear it,” said an official.On two occasions over the past month, Bhide, accompanied by civic officials, inspected multiple stretches and solid waste management chowkis, where she found visible garbage and construction and demolition (C&D) waste along roadsides. Cautioning that visible garbage directly impacts public perception, the municipal commissioner had said such lapses are seen as a failure of ward-level administration.