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A legal notice has been served to the municipal commissioner alleging corruption and procedural violations in the Mulund dumping ground reclamation project in Mumbai. The notice claims that mandatory environmental safeguards mentioned in the tender are not being followed and that irregularities are taking place in waste excavation and transportation. It further alleges manipulation at the weighbridge, leading to multiple challans for the same vehicle. The complainant has sought a departmental inquiry against civic officials and warned of court action if no satisfactory response is received. The BMC has stated that the allegations will be examined.
The municipal commissioner has received a legal notice over alleged corruption and violation of tender conditions in the Mulund dumping ground reclamation project. The notice, served by Mulund-based advocate Sagar Devre, has sought a departmental inquiry against civic officials supervising the work and has raised concerns over environmental compliance and financial irregularities at the site. Advertisement
The Mulund dumping ground in Mumbai was closed several years ago after reaching capacity. As part of the city's long-term solid waste management plan, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) awarded a contract to clear legacy waste, scientifically process accumulated garbage, and restore the old landfill. The reclamation forms part of broader efforts undertaken by the BMC at multiple dump sites, including Deonar and Kanjurmarg, to reduce environmental risks and free up land.
In his notice, Devre has stated that the reclamation is not being carried out scientifically as prescribed in the tender document. He has alleged widespread corruption in the excavation and transportation of waste from the site.
According to the tender conditions, the contractor is required to first make the landfill environmentally safe before starting excavation. This process includes venting landfill gases such as methane, draining toxic leachate, and ensuring that any released air passes through bio-filters. The tender also mandates that air must be blown through plastic pipes for two days before the dump is opened and that air can be exhausted only after filtration. The notice claims that none of these safeguards are being followed at the ground level.
The advocate has further alleged that trucks are entering the dumping yard, loading garbage, and transporting it elsewhere without proper transparency, claiming that large sums of money are being generated from these operations. He has stated that every vehicle entering and exiting the site must be properly recorded and accounted for.
Another allegation relates to the weighbridge process. Devre has claimed that dumpers, instead of leaving the premises after being weighed, wait near the entry point and return to the weighbridge, allegedly generating multiple challans for the same vehicle. This, according to him, results in financial irregularities and inflated records.
The notice has demanded a departmental inquiry against the concerned civic officials. It has also stated that if a satisfactory response is not received, the matter will be taken to court.
Responding to the allegations, a senior BMC official has said that the claims will be examined. The official added that if the allegations are found to be true, the civic body will take action, noting that the contractor has already been fined more than INR 9 crore so far for previous lapses.
The Mulund site has long been a subject of public and environmental concern, particularly regarding air quality, methane emissions, and leachate contamination. Reclamation projects are expected to follow strict environmental norms due to the risks associated with legacy waste. The current notice has brought renewed attention to the manner in which such large-scale landfill remediation projects are being monitored.
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