Mumbai: The Aarey Milk Colony administration has directed Aarey and Vanrai police stations to prevent vehicles suspected of illegally dumping construction debris and soil in the forested area.

In a letter dated 4 July, Aarey CEO Shrikant Shipurkar reported that an inspection on 2 July, involving former MP Kirit Somaiya, municipal, and forest officials, revealed soil, stones, and construction debris dumped in the area.

Shipurkar noted that a 2016 notification by the department of environment, climate and climate change designated the area an EcoSensitive Zone, prohibiting construction without approval from the Sanjay Gandhi National Park Eco-Sensitive Zone Committee.

Despite strict instructions to security personnel to curb unauthorised entry of debris, insufficient staffing and the high volume of vehicles at checkpoints in Aarey Dairy Colony-Goregaon, Marol, Powai, and Royal Palm have allowed the issue to persist.

Aarey spans 3,162 acres (1,280 hectares).Local residents and environmental activists, including Amrita Bhattacharya of the Aarey Conservation Group, have raised concerns about unauthorised dumping, which has intensified since 2023. In response to a Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission case, the Aarey administration cited inadequate manpower for security. It also highlighted that while the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has a system for collecting construction waste, compliance is lacking.

In September 2024, the administration noted that poor security at a gate managed by the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited contributes to the problem.

Bhattacharya warned that city building redevelopment, particularly excavations for underground parking, could exacerbate the issue if debris disposal remains unregulated, threatening Aarey’s environment.