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A legal storm is brewing in Mumbai after the Maharashtra government’s decision to shift thousands of Dharavi residents to a part of the Deonar dumping ground. A local activist has now issued a formal legal notice, calling the move dangerous, unlawful and against environmental norms.
Sagar Devre, an activist and lawyer based in Mulund, sent the notice on 22 April to the state’s Urban Development and Environment Departments, as well as the Municipal Commissioner of Mumbai. He’s asking the authorities to immediately withdraw the cabinet’s decision to hand over 124 acres of the Deonar dumping site for the Dharavi Redevelopment Project.
So, what’s the issue? According to Mr Devre, Deonar isn’t even a closed landfill yet. It’s one of the biggest sources of methane in India, reportedly releasing more than 6,200 kilograms of methane gas every hour. Methane is not just a fire hazard, it’s also 21 times more harmful to the climate than carbon dioxide. The site also produces toxic leachate, a liquid that seeps through waste and can contaminate groundwater.
The activist pointed out that this construction move directly violates existing pollution control laws. As per the Central Pollution Control Board guidelines, construction on a closed landfill is prohibited for 15 years. Not only that, a 500-metre area around such landfills must be treated as a buffer zone, with no residential activity allowed. Deonar, however, isn’t even officially closed yet.
Mr Devre’s legal notice refers to rules under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 and the Municipal Solid Waste Rules, 2000. These rules clearly mention that any construction for human settlement can only happen after a 15-year post-closure care period is completed.
And this is not just about Deonar. The state government is also considering Mulund dumping ground and the adjoining octroi land for the same project. In fact, in a letter sent by the State Housing Department back in January 2024, it was suggested that 46 acres of Mulund landfill and 18 acres of adjacent land could be used for rental housing for around 3 to 4 lakh Dharavi residents who are currently marked as ineligible for rehabilitation.
The move has triggered major concerns among environmentalists and urban planners, who argue that relocating people to toxic and unstable landfill zones could create long-term health and environmental hazards.
As of now, the government hasn’t responded publicly to the legal notice. But the spotlight is firmly on whether this bold plan for Dharavi’s redevelopment might end up doing more harm than good.
