Days after a proposal seeking environmental clearance to shift the biomedical waste treatment plant from Govandi to Khalapur in Raigad district was delisted, locals came forward and filed an online petition. The citizens are also seeking a dialogue with the chief minister to get clarity on their case. Their public interest litigation against the plant—SMS Envoclean—will come up for hearing at the Bombay High Court next month.

The residents, in their online petition addressed to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, the BMC and the Ministry of Environment and Climate change, Maharashtra, said: “... We are being treated worse than animals, the government looks at the citizens of Govandi as guinea pigs. Not only do we have an ever-expanding dumping ground, but there are also multiple projects in the pipeline. A Waste to Energy plant is in the pipeline which residents and environmentalists have been opposing vehemently. Three animal pet incinerators might come up, exacerbating the already high pollution levels.”