Mumbai : The High Court has directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to uninstall the LED lights at Marine Drive and replace them with Sodium Vapour bulbs (yellow lights) before August 15.
This order comes amidst much protest from Mumbaikars and the Shiv Sena against the installation of LED lights, arguing that the traditional yellow lights enhanced the aesthetics of the area. Marine Drive was notified as a heritage structure by the state government recently, and Shiv Sena argued that yellow lights preserve the traditional look of the place. Moreover, no change can be made to a heritage site without the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee’s nod.
The Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee (MHCC) had also written to BMC chief Ajoy Mehta regarding LED lights at Marine Drive, asking the civic body to consider bringing back the traditional golden glow of the area.
A BMC spokesperson said, “We are waiting for a written reply from our lawyer so that we are able to decide on the future course of action.” The decision about who will incur the expenditure for replacing the LED lights with sodium vapour bulbs is still pending, as several parties are involved, said a BMC official.
