MUMBAI, Nov. 2 -- A Govandi-based residents' welfare body has demanded an immediate halt to the alleged fresh waste dumping at the Deonar dumping ground as well as a time-bound plan for its scientific closure. The body has warned that the excavation of nearly 185 lakh tonnes of legacy waste, which is currently being undertaken to free the space for housing for the Dharavi Rehabilitation Project, could expose surrounding neighbourhoods to hazardous gases if adequate safeguards are not in place. In a legal notice dated October 26, the Govandi New Sangam Welfare Society has asked the BMC, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and Mumbai police commissioner to comply with its demands within 14 days, failing which it will approach the Bombay High Court and the National Green Tribunal (NGT). Local corporator Zameer Qureshi said that the nearly century-old waste mound, which is about 20 storeys high today, poses a serious concern during excavation. "Around 18.5 million tonnes of garbage have to be shifted," he said. "Methane, ammonia and sulphur dioxide are present beneath it and they could be released into the surrounding areas, where there are residential settlements." Qureshi said that around 1,65,000 residents from Govandi's M East wards 134, 135 and 136 would be the most affected. "The BMC's tender must provide for gas-collection points to contain the gases," he said. "They must be collected using appropriate technology."Qureishi alleged that the safeguards recommended in reports by the NGT and MPCB were not in place and nearly 500,000 residents could be affected by this. The society's notice, issued through its president Advocate Faiyaz Alam Shaikh says that the 99-year-old dumping ground continues to expose residents of Govandi, Mankhurd, Shivaji Nagar and Mahul to particulate pollution, landfill gases, contaminated leachate and other environmental hazards. "I have issued a 14-day notice demanding the complete closure of the Deonar dumping ground," he said. "We have been given false hopes for the last seven years that it will be shut down but fresh waste continues to be dumped there." The society has demanded a binding order prohibiting fresh municipal waste from being dumped at Deonar and its diversion to designated scientific processing facilities. It has also sought a legally enforceable, month-wise action plan for biomining legacy waste, methane extraction and flaring, leachate treatment and environmental restoration of the site. The notice further seeks public disclosure of ambient air-quality data, methane-monitoring readings, water-testing reports and MPCB compliance records. It calls for real-time pollution monitoring, dust suppression and odour-control measures along the boundaries adjoining Govandi and Mankhurd besides stricter enforcement against illegal waste burning and dumping. The MPCB has prescribed safeguards for the project, including dust and odour control, fire prevention, methane management, slope stability and leachate treatment. It has also mandated periodic air-quality monitoring and transportation of waste in covered vehicles. "If the Deonar dumping ground is not shut down and methane gas collection points are not installed, it will represent a grave failure of the system to protect public health," Shaikh said. "If necessary, we will launch a massive people's movement to fight for the complete closure of the dumping ground and the right of Govandi's residents to breathe clean air." The BMC, however, denied that fresh waste was being dumped at Deonar. "There is no question of methane gas emissions in Deonar as the bioremediation is in process," said Kiran Dighavkar, deputy municipal commissioner, solid waste management. "Methane is emitted from dumping fresh waste and, at present, this has stopped in Deonar, with fresh waste diverted to the Kanjurmarg dumping ground. We have appointed environmental and technical experts, and whatever MPCB guidelines are stipulated will be strictly adhered to." In a compliance report submitted to the MPCB on June 27, 2025, the BMC had stated that around 350 gas vent pipes had been installed at various locations across the ground. It also reported methane monitoring, water sprinkling and the use of a fogger cannon to control dust. A detailed bioremediation and scientific closure plan was being finalised. Meanwhile, Navayuga Engineering Company, which is executing the biomining and land-reclamation project, said six processing machines with a combined capacity of 1,800 tonnes per hour had been commissioned by October 14. The project aims to process 18.5 million tonnes of legacy waste and reclaim 110 hectares. The company has also reported installing air-quality monitoring equipment, laboratory facilities and a leachate treatment plant. The Govandi residents' grouphas warned that it will approach the high court and the NGT if its demands are not met within 14 days....