Maharashtra Environment Minister and senior Shiv Sena leader Ramdas Kadam today said it is suspected that the fire at Deonar dumping ground in suburban Mumbai was deliberately started to defame the party.
"We strongly suspect that the fire at Deonar dumping ground was started to defame Shiv Sena," Kadam said.
Replying to supplementary queries raised on starred question moved by Dipti Chaudhari (Congress) and others, he said he has instructed Mumbai Police Commissioner to probe as to how the fire broke out after UPL company's contract (to handle waste management, partial closure and land filling at the dumping ground) got over.
"The Mumbai CP has been asked to deploy more officials, trace and arrest those behind it. Once the culprits are arrested, it will come to light as to who is behind starting these fires," he said.
The Minister further said the government intends to shift the Deonar dumping ground nearby Taloja in Raigad. The garbage from Mumbai will be taken to Taloja for processing.
"In future, the government intends not to have any garbage dumps in the state," he said.
Earlier, replying to supplementary queries on pollution levels in Mumbai, Kadam informed the House that it was not caused by vehicular pollution alone. "There are other causes like construction activities, debris dumping, stone crushers and garbage dumps," he said.
Kadam said the government has asked IIT and NEERI to study pollution levels in 10 cities having more than 10 lakh population.
"The budget allocation per city is Rs 75 lakh and overall budgetary allocation of Rs 5.75 crore. The two bodies have been given three to nine months to complete their study. Based on the report the government will take policy decision," he said.
Kadam also said the state government has on a trial basis
installed a machine in Worli which will "suck polluted air and release purified air".
"Such machines will be installed at 50 busy traffic junctions across Mumbai. These machines will cover a radius of 200 to 300 feet. Based on the results, the government will decide on installing them in other cities," he said.
The minister said most of the construction companies do not follow pollution control norms which increases pollution levels.
He informed the House that there are 103 stone crushers and tar mixing plants in Mumbai, out of which 83 are causing pollution.
Stop work notices have been issued to 24 plants and show cause notices to the rest. They have been asked to submit a reply within 15 days, he added.
