Diva Dumping Ground
Project Statement
The
Diva dumping ground, situated at Diva-Khardi Road in Thane within the CRZ-1
coastal zone along Mumbra Creek, was used by the Thane Municipal Corporation
(TMC) for dumping mixed municipal waste since approximately 2015–2016. This
activity prompted serious environmental concerns—including destruction of
mangrove cover, contamination of the creek, recurring fire incidents, and
absence of leachate management systems—thereby violating CRZ and environmental
norms. The NGO Vanashakti filed a
petition before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in 2023 to seek the closure
of this unauthorized and environmentally hazardous site.
Project Intervention
·
Legal Intervention (NGT Petition): In 2023, Vanashakti moved an Original
Application (OA No. 26/2023) before the NGT, urging immediate closure of the
Diva dumping ground and restoration of the affected CRZ and mangrove ecosystem.
·
NGT Proceedings
& Directives: The
NGT admitted the plea in May 2023 and issued notices to TMC and other relevant
authorities, including MPCB and the Mangrove Cell, for restoration measures. A
final hearing date was scheduled for May 2024.
·
Appointment of
Project Management Consultant (PMC): TMC appointed M/s MaRs Planning & Engineering Services
Pvt. Ltd. as the PMC
to oversee restoration through bioremediation and biomining. The tender
process was to be completed and restoration work initiated within four months
(as of the February 2024 hearing).
·
Imposition of
Environmental Compensation: In
July 2025, under directions of the NGT, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board
(MPCB) imposed a fine of ₹10.2 crore on TMC for continued violations and
failure to clear the waste between 2016 and 2023. This also included a two-year
extension (2023–2025) for clearing the accumulated waste.
Project Outcome
· Closure and Restoration Planning: The Diva dumping ground has been officially declared closed. Restoration efforts are being planned, with directives issued to TMC to fund and execute bioremediation and bio mining operations through the PMC.
· Financial Accountability: Enforcement through legal and regulatory channels has secured a substantial environmental compensation from TMC (₹10.2 crore), reinforcing the principle of “polluter pays.”
· Ecosystem Recovery Trajectory: With the combination of judicial sanctions, expert-led remediation, and financial enforcement, the project sets the stage for gradual ecological recovery of the CRZ area and mangrove buffer once the restoration begins.
·
Systemic Legal Precedent: Vanashakti’s
intervention exemplifies effective use of legal action to uphold environmental
justice, mandating urban governance bodies to prioritize scientifically backed
restoration and environmental norms compliance.
