P.V.Anandpadmanabhan
Mumbai To fast-track the processing and relocating of the processed garbage from Mulund Dumping Ground, MLA Mihir Kotecha raised the issue during the meeting held by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. During the meeting, BMC assured that the garbage at the Mulund dumping ground will be fully processed and relocated to a site selected by the BMC within a year. On setting up a golf course on the site after clearing garbage, Kotecha said that Chief Minister Fadnavis is positive to the proposal of developing a golf course on the leveled land after the dump is cleared.
A review meeting was held at the Sahyadri Guest House under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, in the presence of Mulund MLA Mihir Kotecha, to assess the progress of pending civic projects in the Mulund Assembly constituency.
MLA Kotecha raised concerns about delays in the proper disposal of waste at the Mulund landfill. “The landfill, which was closed in 2018, was assigned to M/s Biomining India Private Limited for processing. The contract was expected to be completed in six years, but there has been a significant delay,” saif Kotecha.
In response, Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagarni stated that the COVID-19 pandemic had caused setbacks and that 65% of the processing work had been completed. However, Kotecha pointed out that the visible pile of waste had not reduced by even an inch. Gagarni clarified that while 65% of the waste had been processed, the dumping of the processed waste had not yet begun. The processed waste will be relocated to the selected site within a year and the Mulund landfill will be leveled, said Gagrani.
MLA Mihir Kotecha added that once the processed waste is removed, the city will regain 24 hectares of open space, which will be used to develop various public amenities. “As part of this plan, he has proposed constructing a golf course on the leveled site. Chief Minister Fadnavis responded positively to the suggestion,” said Kotecha.
In December 2018, the BMC appointed M/s Biomining India Private Limited as the contractor to close the Mulund landfill at a cost of Rs 731 crore, over a period of six years. The BMC has stopped dumping waste at the site since December 2018. The landfill was operational from 1967 to 2018. The closure process involves bio-mining and the scientific disposal of waste at other locations. Biomining is a method that uses microorganisms to extract metals and process materials from soil and waste.
