Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray took an aggressive stand against the Deonar dumping ground fire incident and warned its alliance partner BJP to resolve this issue within three months. Uddhav wants the centre, state government and the BMC to work in coordination to find a solution for effective garbage disposal failing which Sena will intervene and address the issue in its own style.
Uddhav said, “BJP has been keen to politicise the Deonar dumping ground issue for settling political scores with Sena. Already people residing near Deonar, Chembur and other areas are facing health problems due to recurring fires at the dumping ground. The BJP should take the Deonar fire incident seriously and resolve it as soon as possible.”
Uddhav demanded deployment of security personnel at the dumping ground due to the recurrent fires. He alleged that a “mafia raj” reigned in Deonar, adding a senior IPS official of the rank of deputy commissioner of police should be put in charge of the dumping ground.
Residents of Deonar had already urged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to intervene in this matter and relocate the dumping ground outside the city. However, residents won’t get respite anytime soon as political parties are involved in blame game over this issue.
Few days back Sena MPs, MLAs and ministers had visited the Deonar dumping ground along with mayor Snehal Ambekar. Environment minister Ramdas Kadam then launched a scathing attack on BJP, demanding an inquiry through a special investigation team (SIT).
Maharashtra Environment Minister and senior Shiv Sena leader Ramdas Kadam alleged that the recent incidents of fire at the Deonar dumping ground were the “handiwork” of BJP and that the ruling party was trying to gain political mileage out of the issue. Kadam said that fire is ploy to defame the ruling Shiv Sena in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in the run up to the 2017 elections to the civic body.
Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said, “The BMC must take initiative to address the Deonar dumping ground issue. The Environment ministry will only monitor the progress of the work done by the civic body. Air quality in several parts of Mumbai had oscillated between “poor” and “very poor” in the wake of the fire.”
MPCC President Ashok Chavan said, “Shiv Sena is ruling the BMC and is the alliance partner of the BJP. Instead of holding demonstrations Sena should resolve this matter so that residents don’t have to face hardships again and again.”
