India, May 17 -- When the Bombay High Court (HC) reconvenes after the summer vacations in June, as part of an ongoing hearing, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will have to submit a detailed day-to-day report monitoring odour and pollution levels between 1 am and 6 am at the Kanjurmarg dumping ground. Those are the hours when the stink rising from the landfill is the strongest, say residents.

When 42-year-old Manish Kumar moved from Kalyan to an apartment in Parivar Society, Kanjurmarg East, he achieved both upward mobility and a Mumbai dream -- living close to his office.

However, the past two years have been marked by sleepless nights and repeated visits to the hospital for his five-year-old daughter, who is battling persi...