Even as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is gearing up to present its side in the Supreme Court, around a thousand Mahul residents will head to the civic body's headquarter at CST to submit applications for alternative homes on Wednesday.

The High Court on September 23 ruled that alternative accommodation must be provided to Mahul residents, who have been struggling with extreme levels of air pollution, within 12 weeks and directed the government to deposit Rs 15,000 per month as rent and Rs 45,000 as a refundable deposit in the account of each occupant till alternate homes are allocated. The civic body is set to challenge the ruling which could cost it Rs 125 crore every year. "The BMC will present the case with updated details on the situation in Mahul, rather than on technical grounds," said an officer from the BMC.