India, July 3 -- The Bombay High Court on Monday came down heavily on civic and state authorities for failing to rein in the unchecked operations of the Kanjurmarg dumping ground, warning that the site has now turned into a serious environmental and public health hazard.

"Only those who suffer such pollution know their plight," remarked the division bench of Justices G S Kulkarni and Arif Doctor, as they heard a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by environmental group Vanashakti and others. The PIL challenges the continued dumping of municipal solid waste at the Kanjurmarg site, which is located in the heart of a densely populated area.

Mumbai generates around 7,300 metric tonnes of waste every day, much of which ends up at two mas...