GS3Environment & Ecology·12 Jul 2026·4 min read

Scale of the Kanjurmarg Landfill

On July 12, 2026, the Mumbai Municipal Corporation announced the deployment of soil caps, tarpaumatic covers and odour‑neutralising mist systems at the Deonar landfill after a Bombay High Court order to curb hazardous emissions. The move comes amid mounting public health complaints and legal pressure over the landfill’s 40‑50‑metre waste mounds, which have been a persistent source of foul odour and respiratory ailments for nearby residents. Officials claim the interventions have already cut reported odour levels by 30 % and aim to reduce methane emissions, which currently exceed 1,200 tonnes per day, to meet national Swachh Bharat targets.

•Kanjurmarg Landfill Odour Decline: Court‑Ordered Measures Show Early Success

Kanjurmarg Landfill Odour Decline: Court‑Ordered Measures Show Early Success

The Bombay High Court‑mandated clean‑up of Mumbai’s Kanjurmarg landfill has led to a sharp fall in odour complaints – from 555 in January to zero in July, despite monsoon rains that usually exacerbate stench. The turnaround follows a suite of engineering and greening actions rolled out by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) over the past six months.

Kanjurmarg, a 144‑hectare site on Mumbai’s eastern fringe, has been the city’s primary waste‑disposal hub since 2011. It receives roughly 6,100 metric tonnes of municipal solid waste daily, accounting for about 86 % of Mumbai’s total waste generation of 7,100 MT. Over nearly a decade the mound has accumulated close to 189 lakh metric tonnes, with waste piles rising 40‑50 metres high.

▸Daily intake: ≈ 6,100 MT, ≈ 86 % of city’s waste
▸Total accumulated waste: ≈ 189 lakh MT since 2011
▸Landfill footprint: 144 ha; mound height: 40‑50 m
▸Odour complaints (Jan‑Jun 2024): 555, 811, 616, 435, 320, 204; July = 0

These figures illustrate the sheer magnitude of the challenge faced by an urban centre where land is scarce and waste volumes are rising.

Legal Mandate and Governance

The waste‑management regime rests on three pillars. First, the Constitution’s 74th Amendment obliges urban local bodies to plan and finance solid‑waste services under Article 243‑W. Second, the Supreme Court’s expansion of the Right to Life under Article 21 now includes a clean and healthy environment, giving residents a judicial foothold to demand remedial action. Third, the Solid Waste Management Rules 2000—issued under the Environment Protection Act—mandates source segregation, landfill capping and the preparation of a waste‑to‑energy plan.

▸Constitution 74th Amendment (1992): urban local bodies’ waste‑management duty
▸Supreme Court’s Right to Life jurisprudence (Article 21) → environmental right
▸Solid Waste Management Rules 2000: source segregation, capping, energy recovery

The High Court’s 2023 direction to form a monitoring committee operationalised these legal imperatives, compelling the BMC to act swiftly.

Mitigation Measures Implemented

In response, the BMC deployed a multi‑layered strategy. Exposed waste mounds were capped with a soil blanket to cut direct contact with air. A misting system now sprays odour‑neutralising chemicals and enzyme formulations, while imported tarpaumatic covers shield bioreactor cells. Parallelly, a massive greening drive has seen more than 16,000 trees and saplings planted, with a target of 25,000 by year‑end.

▸Soil capping of waste mounds to block volatile emissions
▸Enzyme‑based misting system for odour neutralisation
▸Tarpaumatic covers on bioreactor cells per monitoring committee advice
▸

16,000 trees planted; goal of 25,000 saplings

These interventions collectively explain the steep drop in resident grievances.

Did You Know? The Kanjurmarg site is classified among the world’s top 25 methane hotspots by a UCLA study, a status that would rank it alongside major landfills in the United States and China.

Remaining Environmental Challenges

While odour has been curbed, the landfill continues to emit methane – a colourless, potent greenhouse gas. Methane’s global warming potential is over 25 times that of CO₂ over a 100‑year horizon, making its control critical for India’s Paris Agreement commitments. Moreover, leachate percolating through the waste threatens groundwater quality, and the sheer volume of waste underscores the need for a circular‑economy shift.

▸Methane emissions persist despite odour control; high GWP (≈ 25× CO₂)
▸Leachate risk to groundwater necessitates proper collection and treatment
▸Waste‑to‑energy plant and biomethanation facility slated for the site
▸Aligns with India’s Paris Agreement NDC to reduce methane intensity

Addressing these issues will determine whether Kanjurmarg becomes a model of sustainable waste management or a lingering source of climate risk.

Policy Implications and Way Forward

The Kanjurmarg experience highlights the interplay between judicial oversight, municipal capacity and national environmental goals. Scaling similar interventions across India’s 7,000‑plus urban local bodies will require robust financing, technical expertise and community participation. The BMC’s plan to install a waste‑to‑energy plant aligns with the Swachh Bharat Mission’s “Zero‑Waste” vision and the National Clean Air Programme’s aim to cut urban air pollutants. However, long‑term success hinges on source segregation, reduction of waste generation, and the development of satellite waste‑processing facilities beyond city limits.

▸Replicate capping and misting tech in other megacities
▸Accelerate source segregation under Swachh Bharat Mission targets
▸Mobilise central and state funds for waste‑to‑energy projects
▸Integrate methane capture with renewable energy grids to meet NDCs

A coordinated approach can turn landfill hotspots into energy assets, delivering both public‑health relief and climate‑action dividends.