Mumbai News: Govandi Residents File Legal Objection Against Deonar Waste-To-Energy Plant

Residents of Govandi have opposed the waste-to-energy plant under construction at the Deonar municipal dumping ground. They said that a large-scale incineration-based plant in an area with some of the lowest health indicators in the city will have catastrophic health consequences on the residents.

In a legal representation to the municipal commissioner, Maharashtra chief secretary, and the environment ministry, advocate Sayyed Abid Abbas Sayyed has asked the project to be stayed and demanded the commissioning of an Environmental Impact Assessment in consultation with local stakeholders. The representation also asked for the creation of a Judicial Commission or Special Investigation Team to investigate how the WtE and dumping activities were allowed in alleged violation of health and environmental norms. The representation said that the residents will initiate legal proceedings, including a Public Interest Litigation if the 'unconstitutional and hazardous project' proceeds further.

The notice said that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation should be restrained from entering any Public Private Partnership or concessionaire agreement without full compliance with Constitutional, statutory, and environmental law requirements. A medical and environmental epidemiological study should be commissioned in Govandi to assess the true impact of air and toxic pollution from Deonar, the representation added.

The first phase of the plant involves incineration of 600 tonnes per day and a further expansion to 1800 TPD by 2030. Mumbai produces around 6500 TPD of municipal solid waste. Chennai MSW Ltd, which is constructing the plant, did not respond to requests for a comment. BMC officials said they were not aware of the representation.

Residents alleged that the exhaust towers of the incineration plant are close to residential areas. The plant violates Article 14 and Article 21 of the Constitution of India that guarantee equality and the right to a healthy life, they added. Shaikh Fayyaz Alam Govandi Citizens Welfare Forum said the plant brings no benefit to the local community. “No jobs, no electricity, and relief from the health hazards we already face. Instead, it adds another layer of pollution, danger, and injustice,” said Shaikh.

According to Sayyad, the non-segregated waste dumped over five decades at the city's largest dumping ground is unsuitable for a WtE plant. “The waste includes unsegregated biodegradable (organic) waste, plastic, biomedical, and construction debris, making segregation at this stage extremely difficult, if not impossible,” said Sayyad.

The representation quotes a Centre for Science and Environment's 2018 report that says that Indian municipal waste has high moisture content and low calorific value much lower than the efficiency requirement for incineration.

Shaikh said that the project is being pushed without public consultation, environmental impact assessments, or transparency. “No elected representatives were informed. No hearings were held. The land, originally reserved for public amenities and welfare, has been quietly converted into an industrial zone — a blatant violation of development norms and democratic rights,” said Shaikh.

Nafees Ansari, a local resident, said the Okhla WtE plant in Delhi began with small-scale energy production. “But over time, it expanded - taking over more land, escalating emissions, and making life unlivable for nearby residents. We fear the same fraudulent expansion here,” said Ansari.

“We are planning protests and a petition in the courts against this unconstitutional, centrally-driven project that has been imposed from the top without the consent of the people,” said Ateeque Ahmed Khan.

What the legal representation says:

A WtE plant relying on incineration of low-calorific, mixed, and non-segregated municipal waste is scientifically unsound and violates the precautionary principle, polluter pays principle, and sustainable development principle under Article 21 and court judgments.

The BMC failed in its statutory obligation under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, especially Rule 15, which mandates segregation at source, scientific processing, and non-mixing of different waste streams.

The Government of Maharashtra must prioritise decentralised waste management, waste segregation, recycling, and co-processing in accordance with the waste hierarchy.

What residents say:

The plant contradicts Mumbai Climate Action Plan's goal of reducing emissions and promoting decentralized waste management. WTE is a high-carbon-emission model.

Proposed plant sits on methane-active zone, making it a fire hazard zone.

Electricity generated will bypass local residents and will be fed into the state grid or industrial consumers.

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