Garbage blaze sparks alarm at TMC site near Vasai Creek and mangroves
THANE: A fire at a temporary garbage dump set up by the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) near Vasai Creek — within a designated Coastal Regulatory Zone — has triggered alarm over environmental violations and potential damage to sensitive mangrove and forest areas. The site, located in Gaimukh along Ghodbunder Road and near the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), is under scrutiny for breaching ecological safeguards.
The fire, allegedly sparked by methane emissions from the accumulated waste, has drawn sharp criticism from environmental groups. Vanashakti, a city-based environmental NGO, has written to multiple authorities, including the Thane collector, SGNP director, and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), flagging the grave violations taking place.
'The site at Gaimukh abutting the Vasai Creek is forest land and a mangrove buffer zone. It is shocking to see garbage being dumped and burned in such a sensitive ecological area,' said Stalin D, director of Vanashakti, in a letter dated May 6.
Citing GPS coordinates provided by local observers, the NGO stated that the dump site is barely 30 metres from the creek — a clear violation of CRZ norms. Satellite images and on-ground reports indicate that nearly 15,000 metric tonnes of garbage have been stored over a one-hectare plot, sparking concerns of leachate contamination and irreversible damage to mangrove ecosystems.
Eyewitnesses and environmentalists report that fires have become a recurring phenomenon, with smoke drifting into nearby forest tracts and toxic ash finding its way into the water body. 'Mountains of garbage are being set ablaze and pushed into the creek. This is not just negligence — it is environmental vandalism,' Stalin alleged, noting that TMC's actions violate ongoing directives from the Bombay High Court regarding air pollution.
TMC, however, has offered a different version of events. 'The fire was caused by naturally occurring methane gas from decomposing waste,' said Manoj Joshi, deputy municipal commissioner of TMC. 'This location was always meant to be temporary. We began using it only in January and are in the process of appointing a contractor to shift the waste elsewhere.'
But this stopgap solution has only highlighted the municipality's larger crisis in solid waste management. In April, Thane city was reeling under a garbage backlog, with uncollected waste piling up on streets. Civic officials blame the ongoing lack of secure dumping sites, and the delay in operationalising a new 35-acre landfill in Atkoli, Bhiwandi, due to stalled tendering.
Thane currently generates over 1,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste daily. While a portion is routed to the CP Talao garbage transfer station for sorting, final disposal is increasingly becoming a challenge with existing landfills at Diaghar and Gaimukh reaching saturation.
Environmentalists warn that continuing this approach of 'temporary solutions' is no longer tenable, especially when such sites are located within ecologically sensitive zones. 'This is not just about garbage anymore — it is about the survival of forests, mangroves, and marine life. The system needs to shift from dumping to decentralised processing and sustainable waste governance,' Stalin added.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Goa plans to set up board to revive khazan land, will override TCP Act
Panaji: Faced with depleting land use, state govt has recommended setting up a board to revive the khazan land. The board's decision on land use will be final and will override the Regional Plan, ODPs and other land use policies, except the Goa Land Use Act of 1991, which will continue to apply to lands under agricultural tenancy, as these are also outside the scope of the TCP Act, 1974. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The Khazan Land Management Plan (KMP) is meant to preserve all farmland and improve food security by growing more rice, vegetables, and fish locally. It suggests surveying the land for cultivation or types of cultivation on existing active khazans and land left fallow. As per the recommendations, the khazan board or any similar agency govt chooses to set up, will manage all areas as zoned in four categories: K1 — low salinity, good for vegetables and second-season rice; K2 — moderate salinity, can grow salt-tolerant rice; K3 — high salinity, suitable for traditional rice, salt, and fish farming; and KH — highly degraded, mostly abandoned with mangrove growth. The department of environment and climate change will officially notify the formation of the khazan board and act as its secretariat. 'Once formed, the board will prepare the detailed KMP based on the CRZ 2011 notification and the approved Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP). The department will define the board's legal powers, structure, and responsibilities within six months. KMP will be reviewed and updated as per the CZMP and CRZ notification in force from time to time,' the recommendations said. The plan recommends conducting comprehensive soil mapping and salinity profiling across different khazan zones to assess soil health and productivity potential for determining suitable crop and aquaculture zones. Under the action plan, it is recommended to implement periodic water quality monitoring to measure parameters like salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, nutrients, and heavy metal contamination to ensure safe aquaculture and agriculture practices. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The aim is to promote desalination techniques, controlled tidal flushing, and freshwater irrigation to maintain soil fertility and improve agricultural productivity. 'It will also utilise bio-remediation techniques such as microbial consortia and organic amendments to enhance soil and water quality in consultation with ICAR and other institutes,' the plan said. A detailed study-cum-mapping is needed to understand the total khazan land and ownership, the status of sluice gates, salt pans, and bunds, functional tenants' associations and their activities over the past five years, auction details and earnings from fisheries, the total number of internal water bodies for the revival of khazan land, the plan said. Understanding the extent and distribution of salinity is crucial for the revival action plans for both sustainable agriculture and aquaculture. 'This data can be additionally verified as per ground truthing, including its status if degraded. Degraded lands which cannot be restored should be identified,' the plan said. To undertake GIS-based mapping, a pilot study for the identification of khazan lands using UAV-based LiDAR technology by involving local communities is recommended. Classification can be based on salinity levels, acidity levels, water retention capacity, and existing land use patterns, highly productive zones, degraded areas, and restoration sites, the plan said.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- The Hindu
Stalin hands over appointment orders to 1,304 forest staff
As many as 1,304 newly recruited frontline forest personnel were given appointment orders by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin during the World Environment Day event held by the Departments of Environment, Climate Change, and Forests, in Chennai on Thursday. A total of 1,411 recruits were selected through the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission's exams conducted in June 2024. They included 515 forest guards, 192 forest guards with driving licence, and 684 forest watchers. While a total of 1,358 recruits have already reported to their respective divisions, 1,238 were present at the function to formally receive their appointment orders. An additional 66 recruits selected for the Tamil Nadu Forest Plantation Corporation (TAFCORN), also participated in the event. This recruitment is the first large-scale induction into the department since the previous round held between 2019 and 2021, which saw the appointment of only 372 personnel. The Chief Minister also laid the foundation for the Research and Development Centre of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB), to be constructed in Guindy at an estimated cost of ₹44 crore. It will house facilities for ambient air quality monitoring, emissions and wastewater monitoring, biomedical and hazardous waste surveillance, and will also feature an integrated environmental laboratory and monitoring unit. Fishnet recovery Mr. Stalin also inaugurated 14 Fishnet Recovery Centres set up in Tamil Nadu's coastal districts as part of the Tamil Nadu Sustainable Habitat for Ocean and Resources Enhancement initiative. These centres, established at a cost of ₹1.75 crore, aim to retrieve abandoned fishing nets from the sea, which pose a serious threat to marine ecosystems. Fishermen involved in collecting these discarded nets are compensated between ₹40 and ₹46 per kg, including a ₹4-₹6 incentive. As of now, over 17,044 kg of fishing nets and plastic waste have been retrieved, with 10,700 kg already recycled, an official release said. To honour exceptional contributions to environmental protection, Mr. Stalin presented awards to top-performing Collectors and District Forest Officers. As many as 38 individuals received the Chief Minister's Waterbody Conservator Award along with ₹1 lakh cash prize. Five industries were recognised with Voluntary Green Rating Certificate for eco-friendly operations and social responsibility. Finance and Environment Minister Thangam Thennarasu, MSME Minister T.M. Anbarasan, Forests Minister R.S. Rajakannappan, Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary to Departments of Environment, Climate Change, and Forests, and diplomats from various countries, including Deputy High Commissioner of the U.K. Halima Holland, were present.
NDTV
3 days ago
- NDTV
"Delimitation On What Basis When Census Is Delayed?" MK Stalin To Centre
Quick Read Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed. MK Stalin criticised the central government's plan for parliamentary delimitation amid a delayed census, fearing it may reduce Tamil Nadu's representation. He accused the BJP of unfairly benefiting northern states and demanded clarity. Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has launched a sharp attack on the Centre, questioning the basis on which the upcoming delimitation of parliamentary constituencies will be carried out after the Union government deferred the national census to 2027. Mr Stalin accused the BJP-led central government of orchestrating a move that could drastically reduce Tamil Nadu's share in parliament. "This is a deliberate plan by the Centre to reduce Tamil Nadu's representation. We demand clear answers on what basis will delimitation be done when the census has been postponed?" he said in a strongly worded statement. The chief minister also took aim at AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS), who revived ties with the BJP, accusing him of being complicit. "EPS has surrendered to Delhi's domination," Mr Stalin said. The core of the concern lies in the fear that population-based delimitation, if implemented, could penalise states like Tamil Nadu and other southern states that have successfully controlled population growth over the past decades. At present, Tamil Nadu holds 7.2 per cent of the total seats in the Lok Sabha. There is worry that southern states, which have done their duty in controlling population, would be punished, while northern states that failed in this regard stand to gain an exponential number of seats. A few months ago, Mr Stalin organised a conclave in Chennai attended by a few chief ministers and leaders of political parties demanding a fair delimitation. The BJP, however, dismissed these fears as "unfounded and baseless." Union Home Minister Amit Shah previously assured that Tamil Nadu would "not lose even a single seat" in the next delimitation. Yet, the southern states are not convinced. They are calling for the current proportion of MPs from each state to be frozen to preserve regional balance and ensure fairness. With state elections in Tamil Nadu due in 2026, the issue is also becoming part of the poll narrative.
