Amid speculation that a 120-acre land parcel at Deonar dumping ground will be handed over by the state government for the Dharavi redevelopment project, civic officials are wondering who will be responsible for clearing the two crore tonnes of solid waste accumulated on the plot. The BMC has handed over the land to the district collector, but the latter refused to dispose of the waste.

The dumping ground, which had been operational till 1927, was permanently shut five years ago.  According to BMC’s records, the total area of the ground is 300 acres, 120 of which now belong to the collector, Mumbai Suburban district (revenue department). The height of the solid waste towers at about 40 metres.