The Bombay High Court on September 10 sharply criticised the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) over garbage piling up across Mumbai, saying the “whole city is full of filth” and questioning how the financial capital could call itself an “international city” amid poor cleanliness.
A bench of Justices Girish Kulkarni and Neela Gokhale, hearing petitions concerning pollution around the Kanjurmarg waste-processing facility, said the municipal machinery appeared inactive despite repeated assurances.
The court ordered the BMC to submit its Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and a list of officers responsible for cleanliness across all 26 wards, warning that officers could face removal if garbage continued to remain on public roads.
The bench also urged stricter waste segregation, heavy penalties and possible criminal prosecution for littering, while asking the civic body to use public-awareness campaigns and social-media influencers to promote responsible waste disposal.
The BMC, meanwhile, has previously announced CCTV surveillance at garbage hotspots, ward-level monitoring and stricter enforcement under Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide, while also proposing a ₹3.01-crore CSIR-NEERI study to examine methane emissions, air pollution and odour at Kanjurmarg.
Court Demands Accountability
The latest hearing marked a significant escalation in the court’s criticism of Mumbai’s civic administration. Referring to photographs of garbage accumulating at different locations, including Dadar, the bench questioned why identified garbage-vulnerable points continued to remain dirty despite the BMC knowing about them.
“Everywhere there is only filth,” the judges said, adding that the civic machinery appeared not to be functioning. The court also criticised what it described as “paper assurances” and directed BMC Commissioner Ashwini Bhide to “put the house in order” and establish clear accountability. The judges specifically sought the names of ward and field officers responsible for maintaining cleanliness and hygiene on public roads and open spaces.
The court warned that if litter or garbage was found on roads, the concerned officer could face removal, stressing that accountability must reach the officials responsible for individual areas rather than remain within a broad administrative system. The bench also said the BMC must strictly implement the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, and suggested creating a task force for enforcement.
Kanjurmarg To Citywide Crisis
The proceedings originated from petitions concerning odour and pollution around the Kanjurmarg waste-processing facility, but the court’s concerns have now expanded to Mumbai’s wider waste-management system.
Kanjurmarg has remained under scrutiny after residents complained of persistent foul odour and environmental concerns. The facility has reportedly accumulated nearly 189 lakh metric tonnes of waste since becoming operational in 2011, with waste mounds reaching around 40–50 metres in height.
The BMC has maintained that Kanjurmarg is a waste-processing facility rather than simply a dumping ground. Commissioner Ashwini Bhide has also spoken about measures at the site, while the civic body has proposed a two-year CSIR-NEERI study worth around ₹3.01 crore to scientifically assess methane emissions, air pollution and odour.
Separately, following earlier High Court directions, Bhide ordered a citywide cleanliness drive, including CCTV surveillance at garbage-vulnerable points, inspections of recurring dumping spots, ward-level monitoring and action against people who illegally dump waste.
However, Thursday’s hearing showed that the court remains dissatisfied with the visible results. The judges also stressed that citizens share responsibility, observing that people continue to dump waste wherever open spaces are available. They suggested stronger penalties and even criminal prosecution for repeated littering, while citing Singapore as an example of stricter enforcement. The next hearing is scheduled for October 7.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective –
Mumbai’s garbage crisis cannot be solved by placing the entire burden on either civic officials or citizens. The High Court is right to demand accountability from officers when known garbage hotspots remain neglected, particularly after repeated assurances and cleanliness drives.
At the same time, a sustainable solution requires citizens, businesses, housing societies and local communities to take responsibility for segregation and disposal rather than treating public spaces as convenient dumping grounds. The BMC’s earlier steps including CCTV monitoring, ward-level reviews and stronger enforcement are meaningful only if residents can see a measurable difference on their streets.
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