With the Union ministry of environment and forest stating that the site selected at Swara-Rasanheri, near Kharar, is not suitable for the plant, GMADA will have to conduct the environment impact assessment (EIA) study again for three sites selected at Samgoli, Khairpur and Nimbuan villages. ''As the entire process will start afresh, the wait of Mohali residents for proper disposal of daily garbage is going to be stretched. The city alone generates over 60 tonne daily garbage. For the last one year, GMADA has been busy in selecting the site. However, at most of the places, it had to face stiff opposition of locals, who were against the idea of a garbage dumping ground in their neighbourhood. The Union ministry of environment and forest had recently sent a communication to the secretary, environment department of Punjab government on the issue.

GMADA chief administrator Vivek Partap Singh said the State Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) too had found the site at Swara unsuitable, after which they have identified three more places.

Singh said while GMADA would acquire the land, local government department would fund the plant.

According to sources, for the EIA study of Swara site, GMADA had spent around Rs 6-8 lakh. With the rejection of this site, more funds would have to be spent on the identified sites. Chief engineer of local government department Manohar Singh said as soon as GMADA provided them a suitable site, they would ensure the setting up of the processing plant. However, sources said the residents of Samgoli too are against the idea of a garbage ground in their locality, making it possible that the issue would linger on further.