Sena minister blames BJP for toxic fire at Mumbai dumping ground

Maharashtra environment minister and senior Shiv Sena leader Ramdas Kadam on Monday alleged that the recent incidents of fire at the Deonar dumping ground were the ‘handiwork’ of the Bharatiya Janata Party and that the ruling party was trying to gain political mileage out of the issue.

Kadam, along with other Shiv Sena MPs and ministers, and city mayor Snehal Ambekar, on Monday visited the dumping ground.

“The BJP trying to take political mileage out of this fire issue (incidents of fire since January this year) which is the handiwork of its own people and they are doing this in the run up to the BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) polls,” Kadam alleged.

“...But the truth is that the BJP and its leadership are responsible for this menace. This is their attempt to malign Shiv Sena,” he told reporters.

“Inquiry should be run into these incidents. I ask who appoints commissioner of the BMC, Shiv Sena leader or the chief minister?” he asked.

Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant said it was unfortunate that the BJP was ‘playing politics’ over the issue rather than solving it.

He also attacked Congress over its Mumbai chief Sanjay Nirupam’s remarks that the BJP-Shiv Sena combine has ruined the city.

“Congress leaders need to know at least one very common thing that if we were not doing the right job, then why we were elected so many times by the people of Mumbai?” he asked.

BMC Commissioner Ajoy Mehta, who was also present on the spot, briefed the minister and others on measures being undertaken by the civic administration on the cooling operation front.

Massive fire at the dumping ground in January this year had created a thick blanket of smog over neighbouring areas causing serious health issues to residents, while a fresh fire broke out there last week.