Another risky landfill plan in Mumbai

THE Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai plans to partially close down and modernize the Deonar dumping ground in the eastern suburb at a cost of Rs 5,000 crore, but environmentalists fear it may end up increasing the risks of land subsidence and pollutants leaching into the groundwater.
The proposal is to slightly compact and cover garbage, dumped up to 35 metres above the ground on 65 hectares (ha), with polythene sheets and soil and then convert it into a green belt. It also involves shielding a nearby creek with a concrete bund to prevent leachate from reaching it. This will be done in two years. The contract for the most controversial part of the project, partial closure, has been given to a consortium of agro-chemical firm United Phosphorus Ltd, Kerala-based poabs Organic Estate and Germany