Mumbai News: BMC Misses May Deadline To Plant Grass At Shivaji Park Despite Pollution Board's Directive

The BMC has missed it's May deadline to sow grass seeds at Dadar's Shivaji Park ground, which was directed by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) as part of the plan to develop green lawn on the ground as a long term measure to control the dust pollution.

The BMC's enviornment department has also sanctioned funds of Rs 80 lakhs to G-North ward office for the work. "Despite MPCB's directions for time-bound work and funds sanctioned, there are no signs of any work. The BMC was supposed to submit a report to MPCB by April. We have been approaching the ward office several times, but there is no update," said Vaibhav Rege, AML Shivaji Park residents. "MPCB also had also said that legal action can be taken against BMC, if the work is not done," Rege added.

After missing deadline of May, the BMC now says the work will be done next week. "The planting of grass for trial green patches was scheduled in last week of May, however, heavy rains stalled the work. We also have had consultations with IIT Bombay as directed by MPCB," said an official from G-North ward.

"We were not expecting early onset of monsoon. Although, it's delayed, if grass is planted now, the monsoon has conducive atmosphere for it to grow. We have not ran out of time," the officer added.

On February 4, the MPCB had issued a fresh notice to BMC’s Environment Department directing time-bound actions to be taken to control the problem flying red dust at Shivaji Park. The main measures included, deciding on variety of grass that can hold on the ground, sowing grass seeds before the monsoon begins, appointing a ‘curator’ to maintain the ground among others. 

The notice came after BMC scrapped its plan to remove a 9-inch soil layer from Shivaji Park to address the problem of flying dust after IIT-B experts told the MPCB that that soil removal is not a feasible long-term solution. The IIT-B instead advised growing grass which can hold the soil. 

The MPCB issued the directions to the BMC under section 33A of Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and under section 31A of Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.