Mulund East residents will approach the Bombay High Court to challenge the state government’s decision to rehabilitate families affected by the Dharavi redevelopment project on salt pan land. During a meeting on Tuesday, locals vowed to take a firm stand. A PIL is likely to be filed on Friday. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has started constructing a colony for project-affected people a short distance away from the area’s salt pans.

Gangadhar Tulsankar, a senior citizen, said Mulund East was renowned for its tranquillity. “Even during the 2005 floods, Mulund East was unaffected because of salt pans, which acted as a buffer. If high-rises come there, it becomes a recipe for disaster,” he said. “The state government plans to rehabilitate Dharavi residents here. Why is the government displacing them?  Why can’t they be housed in Dharavi itself,” he added.