There must be enough awareness that debris dumping is a crime and will invite the strictest punishment
A pile of debris at RA Kidwai Marg in Wadala. Pics/Ashish Raje
Although the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is working to curb illegal debris dumping, RA Kidwai Marg in Wadala has a festering problem. A report in our paper said debris continues to be dumped on the roads. Locals said in our report that there are certain spots, especially outside a colony, for instance, where this debris is dumped.
While a senior municipal official has agreed that complaints have been received, debris removed post that and an investigation launched whether this is a dumping site, it is vital that we do not see repeats. Authorities should be able to discern through CCTV surveillance, so sharp coverage through high-quality cameras is necessary.
This dumping may be happening late at night or extremely early morning when it is dark, so good street lighting will help capture these images. Even cops patrolling at these places for safety, or citizen vigilantes can help.
There must be enough awareness that debris dumping is a crime and will invite the strictest punishment. From posters that warn of police action for dumping debris to an awareness uptick on social media, the fight to stop this should be multi-pronged.
While this report focused on one area, one can certainly say with confidence that there are spots in the city that do see debris dumping, complaints and removal till the problem recurs. It is also impossible to remain vigilant all the time and complain one after another about this. That is why we need a campaign talking about this and outlining measures the civic authorities, along with the cops, will take in ensuring spaces do not become convenient dumping sites. It is entirely possible this is done in groups, or by people arriving in vehicles from a distance away, as we all have that ‘not in my backyard’ mentality and do not care if debris is “far away”. A raft of well-thought-out, consistent actions aided by tech, will see this stop completely.
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