Govandi Residents to Challenge BMC’s Waste-to-Energy Plant in Deonar at NGT

Mumbai, March 14: Residents of Govandi are planning to approach the National Green Tribunal (NGT) against the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) proposed waste-to-energy (WTE) plant in Deonar. The residents have raised concerns citing violations of environmental laws, public health regulations, financial accountability, and urban planning norms in the construction of the plant.

While the BMC has fast-tracked efforts to commission the long-awaited WTE plant by October 2025, locals in both Govandi and Deonar have expressed strong opposition to the project, citing health concerns for the Deonar area, which is already Mumbai's most polluted zone, struggling with toxic air quality and recurrent landfill fires.

On Thursday, the Govandi Citizens Welfare Forum issued a legal notice to the BMC, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) regarding the proposed plant. The notice, which was also marked to the NGT, raised concerns over the potential impact of the plant on public health, particularly for those residing in Deonar and Govandi.

The letter referred to the 'India's Waste-to-Energy Paradigm' study, which suggests that WTE technology fails in India due to the high moisture content and low calorific value of municipal waste, making incineration an unviable option. The study also highlighted that WTE incineration releases carcinogenic pollutants such as dioxins, furans, NOx, SO2, heavy metals, and PM2.5 & PM10, further deteriorating air quality in an already critically polluted area.

The residents also allege that the land for the proposed plant was originally reserved for public utilities under the Development Plan (DP) 1991. However, the reservation was changed without public consultation. Additionally, the plant’s location allegedly violates CPCB buffer zone guidelines, which mandate a minimum of 500 meters distance from residential areas, while the proposed plant is situated within 200 meters of densely populated settlements.

The citizens' forum has demanded that construction of the plant be immediately halted and that the environmental clearances be revoked. They also called for the site to be declared illegal, citing violations of the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act 1966 and CPCB buffer zone norms.

The residents have further demanded an independent environmental impact assessment (EIA), complete with public hearings, and the adoption of alternative waste management solutions such as composting and decentralized processing.

Shaikh Faiyaz Alam, convenor and founder of the Govandi Citizens' Welfare Forum, said, "A report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India had highlighted that waste-to-energy plants are not financially viable, as they require excessive subsidies while failing to generate the promised electricity. The World Bank had withdrawn its funding from a project in Gujarat due to environmental concerns, citing global failures in similar projects."

The legal battle is expected to intensify as residents fight to protect their health and environment from what they deem a hazardous and unjustified project in their locality.