Bombay HC Warns BMC Officers Over Garbage Crisis, Orders Waste Segregation SOP
The Bombay High Court on Thursday warned of action against Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) ward officers over persistent garbage accumulation on city roads. Justices Girish Kulkarni and Neela Gokhale observed that "the whole city is full of filth" and the civic machinery appeared inactive, questioning how Mumbai could call itself an international city.
The bench directed the BMC to prepare and implement a strict standard operating procedure (SOP) for waste segregation and appoint a dedicated task force to ensure compliance with the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026. The court was hearing petitions filed by residents near the Kanjurmarg dumping ground concerning foul odour, toxic gas emissions and alleged health hazards.
The judges noted that while senior officials had initiated steps, there was little ground-level improvement. The court stressed that waste segregation must occur at the point of collection, not at dumping sites, and directed the BMC to establish clear accountability mechanisms for lapses by ward officers.
