MUMBAI, Aug. 24 -- A year-and-half after the demolition of 41 unauthorised buildings in Nalasopara East, the Vasai-Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVCMC) has turned the vacant plot, reserved for a sewage treatment plant (STP), into a garbage dump. According to locals, at least 30 garbage-disposal vehicles belonging to VVCMC contractors regularly frequent the site to offload rubbish. Residents of buildings adjacent to the plot said that after the pre-monsoon cleaning of drains and gutters, the garbage and sludge were deposited on the 60-acre plot. "The stench is unbearable," said Diksha Jain. "The VVCMC should have had a plan in place before demolishing the buildings." Rajendra Gawde, a social activist who fought for the rights of the 8,500 people who were vacated from the illegal buildings of Agarwal Nagar, said that the VVCMC had not made any move to set up the STP. "Turning the plot illegally into a dumping yard has been affecting the neighbouring legitimate settlements," he said. "Residents have to live with a foul smell, smoke and filth, which is affecting their health." In 2006, Sitaram Gupta, a former corporator of the Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA), grabbed 30 acres of private land and 30 acres of government land reserved for projects such as a dumping yard and STP. He and his son allegedly sold the land to builders using fake documents, and also constructed 41 illegal buildings themselves between 2010 and 2012. Some believe that the dumping of garbage on the plot is appropriate, given the increasing population and expansion of Vasai-Virar city. "Around 1.5 million metric tonnes of garbage have accumulated at the VVCMC's official dumping ground at Gokhivare-Bhoidapada," said Kakasaheb Mote, a member of the ruling Shiv Sena. "Besides, 1,000 to 1,200 metric tonnes are generated daily. This is what prompted the VVCMC to dump garbage at alternate vacant locations such as the Agarwal Nagar plot." Flat owners who were evicted expressed dismay that the land which was taken away from them was now being used as a dumping yard. Krishna Giri, who owned an office in Agarwal Nagar, said, "Why did the civic body take away our homes? In the past one year, they have done nothing towards the STP. In fact, they wanted to shift it to Gass Road and sell the land to private developers. When that plan did not work, they are wasting the plot instead of rehabilitating us on a part of it." After the demolition of the 41 unauthorised buildings in January-February 2025, the evicted flat owners had approached the high court. The court warned the developers and land owners not to take undue advantage of the fact that the land had now been cleared and enter into fresh commercial transactions or construct tenements on it. It also directed the VVCMC to not grant construction permission to the land owners or any developers without permission from the court. When contacted, VVCMC commissioner Prithviraj B P said, "The problem has been brought to my notice, and the garbage will be removed. The plan for the STP is in motion."...