BMC to create buffer zone around Kanjur waste processing facility to reduce odour

Mumbai: The BMC will not only develop a green belt between the residential Kannamwar Nagar and the waste processing facility at Kanjurmarg to reduce the odour that locals complain of, it will also shift the material recovery facility (MRF), where waste is segregated, from its current location to another site within the facility. This will help create a 500-meter buffer zone, in accordance with directions from the monitoring committee.

Municipal commissioner Ashwini Bhide, who visited the Kanjurmarg dumping ground site on Wednesday, also directed civic officials to increase the use of odour-control chemicals sprayed on fresh waste to reduce the impact of foul smell.

The monitoring committee overseeing the Kanjurmarg municipal solid waste processing facility had earlier directed the BMC to prepare a comprehensive green belt development plan within 15 days.

BMC deputy municipal commissioner (solid waste management) Kiran Dighavkar said around 15,000 trees will be planted across a 1 lakh square metre area in the buffer zone. He added the plant species selected would have properties that aid odour control, dust control and pollution absorption.

According to the civic administration, dedicated teams comprising personnel from the contractor, the BMC and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) are being deployed for real-time monitoring of air quality. The municipal commissioner also directed that a separate control room be established to monitor the odour situation from 1 am to 6 am and undertake immediate remedial measures upon receiving complaints. The teams deployed at night will identify the waste responsible for any increase in the odour.

To prevent odour from reaching residents in areas around the site, a chemical solution containing enzymes is sprayed on the solid waste. Additionally, a misting system has been installed to spray fragrant substances around the waste-receiving areas. A misting cannon system for spraying fragrant substances is currently operational at 11 locations across the project site.

The commissioner also called for the urgent establishment of a continuous air-monitoring station with a public display facility and directed officials to ensure continuous use of state-of-the-art equipment for uninterrupted and effective air quality monitoring. Bhide said that updated information regarding air quality should be regularly made available to citizens on the BMC website.

Furthermore, the commissioner directed the administration to formulate a green fencing plan for all waste processing facilities in the city so that the green fencing can function as a buffer zone between residential colonies and processing facilities.