Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Thursday restrained the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) from carrying out further land reclamation for the Coastal Road Project in Mumbai till April 23. A bench of Chief Justice Pradeep Nandrajog and Justice N M Jamdar also directed the BMC not to dump debris of the project in Worli sea-face area until further orders.
The judges accepted BMC counsel Anil Sakhre’s statement that it will not cut any trees in Tata Garden area for the project until further orders from the court. The bench was hearing two petitions, one filed by NGO ‘Society for Improvement of Greenery and Nature’ and another by a group of residents. The NGO has challenged the BMC’s proposal to cut over 200 trees in Tata Garden area for the project.
The civic body said it was necessary to make way for an interchange at Breach Candy for the coastal road. Ankit Kulkarni, lawyer of the NGO which is run by Breach Candy residents, argued that an open plot next to the park, known as Scandal Point, can be used for the interchange and there will be no need to cut the trees.
The court said the suggestion was logical. “This is a simple suggestion that will appeal to any logical mind. Why not consider this?” the bench said. The court also lamented rapid destruction of greenery in most cities to make way for “insatiable desire” for development.
