Rapping the Maharashtra government over the "delay" in allotting land to the Mumbai civic body for a new garbage dumping ground, the Bombay High Court asked the state to file an affidavit within two weeks detailing where and when it proposes to provide land.
A bench of Justices A S Oka and P N Deshmukh yesterday said the delay in allotment of land could lead to serious health hazards.
The bench directed the state to file an affidavit specifying availability of "adequate land", where the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) can start its project.
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The court was hearing a bunch of petitions seeking that the BMC be directed to stop throwing waste at the Deonar dumping ground that has already reached its saturation point.
The HC was informed by the state government yesterday that the civic body had refused to take the land identified at Taloja, as a gas pipeline was running through that plot.
The government said it had identified an alternative plot at Mulund, but the same could not be handed over to the BMC yet as it was under some litigation.
On hearing this, the court pointed out that no progress has been made in the matter despite several hearings over the past one year.
"There is complete failure by the state government to provide adequate land to BMC. Such delay, despite court orders, is shocking," the bench said, adding, "Such inaction will result in serious health hazards in the city. We hope that the state understands the seriousness and gravity of the situation being faced by the city of Mumbai," it said.
Government pleader Abhinandan Vagyani informed the court that the state will soon hold a meeting with all stakeholders to resolve this matter.
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