Aafrin Kidwai 
A file photograph of Dharavi, Mumbai’s largest slum, which has reported seven cases of the novel Coronavirus
Almost half the Covid-19 waste generated from quarantine centres, containment zones and self-isolation centres in the city is disposed of unsafely, according to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) solid waste management department.
According to the MPCB data, Mumbai has been generating an average of 1,500 kg of Covid-19 waste per day, which is the highest in Maharashtra as most cases are from the city. From March 22 to 31, the amount of waste ranged between 500kg and 600kg a day. On April 1, the amount of waste doubled to 1,342kg and 1,370kg on April 2. A sharp spike in Covid-19 waste collection was seen on April 3 and 4 to 2,022.1kg and 2,328kg. On April 5 again, the quantum dropped to 1,351.15 kg. “The fluctuation shows improper segregation,” informed Amar Supate, principal scientific officer and head of bio-medical waste management, MPCB to The Hindustan Times.
The BMC’s department has now appealed to citizens to follow instructions from the urban development department and Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) in order to safeguard others from contracting the infection through improper segregation, especially since the number of quarantined centres and containment zones is increasing on a daily basis. This is a serious issue as it increases the risk of transmission.
Picture Credit: Leonora Enking, Shanty dwellings, Railway tracks and Mosque in Dharavi Slum Mumbai India February 2010, CC BY-SA 2.0
