Waste-carrying vehicles to be installed with GPS device: Devendra Fadnavis

Stating that illegal dumping of waste is a matter of serious concern, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said all vehicles transporting waste will be installed with GPS devices.

During the calling attention motion, MLC Anil Parab alleged that garbage vehicle operators in Mumbai are involved in big scams and that they help developers by dumping debris in mangroves, thereby indulging in illegal land filling.

In his reply, Fadnavis informed the House that the MCGM (Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai) will be immediately directed to monitor contractors and stern action will be taken against those found violating norms. "All garbage dumpsters will be fitted with GPS tracking devices so that it is known where is the garbage being exactly dumped. Also, MCGM will be directed to monitor contractors and to take action against those straying away from stipulated norms," Fadnavis said.

He added that Deonar, Kanjurmarg and Mulund dumping grounds fall under Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ), thus only 50 per cent of the land can be used for dumping purpose. "We have approached the Ministry of Environment and have discussed this issue. We have received a favourable reply and we hope that this issue will be resolved soon," Fadnavis said.

Fadnavis said that to give an impetus to the Prime Minister's Swachch Bharat Abhiyan, the State Government has asked all municipal corporations to allocate at least 25 per cent of its annual budget for waste disposal and management.

Unless, this condition is met, the local self bodies will not receive any grants from the 14th Finance Commission. "All the municipal corporations in the state including Gram Panchayats will have to allocate 25 per cent of its fund for Swachch Abhiyan. Only then will they be eligible for grants from 14th finance commission," he said, while replying to a calling attention motion raised by Sanjay Dutt, Congress MLC. He said that before asking the state government to allot space for dumping waste, all civic bodies will have to ensure the segregation and processing at source.