Maharashtra Govt hints at challenging Bombay HC order staying car shed work in Kanjurmarg

On Wednesday, Maharashtra government hinted at appealing against order of a two-judge Bombay HC bench pertaining to Mumbai Metro 3 car shed. A division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Girish Kulkarni stayed transfer of 102-acres land in Kanjurmarg to  Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) for construction of car shed. HC, which was hearing Centre’s writ petition filed through  deputy salt commissioner, adjourned matter till February 2021.

Speaking to media, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar remarked, "y (Bombay HC) have done what y wanted to do. Chief Minister and Maha Vikas Aghadi government will try to take a positive position as per law and rules". He added, "re is a provision in law to appeal against High Court verdict. We will explore this option too". Pawar stressed that any decision in this regard will be taken after consulting Law department and Advocate General. 

Read: BJP Challenges Aaditya Thackeray For Public Debate Over Car Shed Row, Recalls Cong Stance

Read: 'Govt Should Keep Ego Aside, Start Car Shed Work At Aarey': Ex-CM Fadnavis On HC's Order

Row over car shed 

Mumbai Metro 3 project comprises a 33.5 km underground corridor running along Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ route. In total, re will be 27 stations out of which 26 will be underground. At present, nearly 78 per cent of tunnelling work has been completed.  

re has been a long dispute about location of Metro car shed. According to environmental activists, Aarey is a forest area and any construction work would hamper ecological balance. On or hand, Devendra Fadnavis regime highlighted that long-term gains of project would offshoot temporary dam caused due to felling of trees.  

Widespread protests were held to protest against  Aarey land being used for purpose of building a car shed for Mumbai Metro 3. As Bombay High Court upheld permission granted by Brihanmumbai Mumbai Corporation’s (BMC) Tree Authority in October, over 2,185 trees were razed overnight. This led to a petition in SC that ordered a freeze on cutting of any more trees till furr orders.

While Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray asserted that a single leaf of Aarey would t be cut, a report submitted by a 4-member panel constituted by MVA government in January 2020 recommended that Aarey was best possible site for construction of car shed as or alternative places were t financially viable. On October 11, Thackeray anunced that car shed will be shifted to government land in Kanjurmarg and cost will be incurred for purpose. 

Read: Fadnavis 'exposes' MVA Govt's Aarey Carshed Shifting; Says 'project Delayed By 4.5 Yrs'