A 64-acre land parcel in Mulund, currently occupied by the city’s defunct dumping ground, is expected to become available for public use by the end of the year, triggering discussions over how the prime land should be utilised in the future.
Located between the Thane creek mangroves and the Eastern Express Highway, the former dumping ground is undergoing remediation work by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Civic officials said the closure and treatment process is likely to be completed by December.
Even before the remediation work concludes, several proposals have emerged for the land’s future use. Mulund MLA Mihir Kotecha has proposed the development of a golf course, while other groups have suggested building a cancer hospital or creating urban green spaces.
“The release of methane gas is a genuine issue and any sort of digging could lead to a blast. Hence, a golf course is best since it will not require any digging and will ensure green cover. Besides, there is a long waiting period to take membership in other city golf clubs and this game should be accessible to all,” Kotecha told HT.
However, several local residents and environmental groups have opposed the idea. “Mumbai has already lost so much greenery and this is a perfect opportunity to develop an urban forest,” said Mohan Menon of the Hari Om Nagar Federation.
Another federation member, Sachin Joshi, said, “Remnants of any dumping ground will tend to have repercussions for years. Hence, it is best to allow nature to take over.”
The remediation work is being carried out by Bio Mining India Pvt Ltd (BMIPL), which was assigned the task of processing nearly 7 million tonnes of legacy waste after the dumping ground stopped operations in 2018.
“We have completed 90% of the work, that is, processing 6 million tonnes,” said Dushyant Warse, project manager at BMIPL.
Environmental activists have also raised concerns regarding future development around the site. Stalin Dayanand, director of Vanashakti, warned that redevelopment near former dumping grounds could lead to long-term environmental issues if regulations are not followed properly.
Deputy Municipal Commissioner Kiran Dighavkar confirmed that multiple proposals have been received for the site but said no final decision has been taken yet regarding the future use of the land.
Source: Hindustan Times
