Massive 4800 Metric Tonnes of Illegal Garbage Unearthed in Thane’s Rural Areas
Thane, 15th April 2024: In Thane’s rural belt, a massive 4800 metric tonnes of illegal garbage, equivalent to the carrying capacity of about 200 dumper trucks, have been discovered across nearly 200 makeshift dump yards. This poses significant health risks and tarnishes the area’s aesthetics. Cleanup efforts have been initiated in response to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s concerns. The actions being taken include waste segregation, implementing preventive measures to deter illegal dumping, and involving local authorities and agencies.
The district administration is actively addressing the issue after it was brought to light by CM Shinde during a recent public meeting in Thane. An agency has been tasked with clearing the identified dump sites and implementing measures to prevent future illegal dumping, especially near state and national highways.
Thane Zilla Parishad officials have highlighted that there are 431 gram panchayats within the district’s rural areas, encompassing over 800 villages. While most have waste collection mechanisms in place, a substantial amount of garbage ends up in illegal dump yards, remaining uncollected and posing health hazards to nearby residents.
A comprehensive drive has been launched to pinpoint such illegal dumping sites in rural areas and devise strategies to combat this issue. The administration aims to penalize those who flout regulations by dumping waste in open areas. Measures such as installing warning signs, deploying personnel, and utilizing surveillance cameras are being considered to prevent further occurrences.
“Atul Paraskar, deputy CEO and head of the water supply and sanitation department at the Thane ZP disclosed that approximately 200 locations in 80-gram panchayats have been identified in the initial phase where illegal dumping is rampant. A substantial portion of the 4800 tonnes of trash has already been removed and will be disposed of by the assigned contractor. Collaborative efforts with gram panchayats are underway to implement preventive measures and deter future illegal dumping through initiatives like signage installation and increased monitoring,” he added.
