The happiness of Mulund residents could be short-lived as another dumpyard will be soon "gifted" to them — though little far from the existing one. While the residents are yet to free themselves from the existing dumpyard which will be closed "soon", the BMC has plans to dump the waste on new ground in Mulund East on Mulund–Airoli Road.

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Vijay Balamwar, deputy municipal commissioner (SWM), said that the state government has given us two plots — Taloja and Mulund-Airoli Road. The second plot is in Mulund and not in Airoli as it was perceived. The civic body has drawn a lot of criticism by residents of neighbouring satellite towns. "But we cannot dump our city's garbage in neighbouring city. The plot is between Mulund and Kanjurmarg," said Balamwar. 

He was speaking at a school event – Open House on Garbage Crisis – in Chembur, barely 10 minutes away from Deonar. Balamwar said that existing Mulund dumping ground will be closed shortly. Environment ministry has asked us to stop dumping garbage there. The civic body will have to process the total of 62 lakh metric tonne and address the garbage.

"We do not want to do scientific closure but we want to claim the land back. We are planning to free the land from garbage and this is happening for the first time ever. However, we are yet to get good response to the tender. The tender was issued last month and is still live. We have received proposals from Brazilian and South Korean companies. But they need clarity on certain issues before entering the fray. Also we want the land to be cleared in 5 years. Which is very less time for them to process the garbage. Our requirements are high and conditions are stringent. But we are waiting for a better proposal," said Balamwar.

Congress leader Charanjit Singh Sapra expressed his disappointment over the fact that civic body was thrusting another dumpyard on the residents of Mulund. "We are shocked to learn that another dumpyard will be gifted to the already saturated suburb. We will allow the dumping of waste on new ground only after processing starts at the existing dumpyard. It is injustice to the residents", he said.

Sapra demanded that once again Mulund is meted out with step-motherly treatment. "I demand that all the municipal commissioners post 2000, after Municipal Solid Waste Management Rules came into existence, should be charged with criminal action for posing dangers to citizens lives," he said.

However, Balamwar addressed the question and assured him that with newer and upgraded technology waste will be processed before dumped. "Processed waste will also not be hazardous to people's health," he said.