BJP challenges Aaditya Thackeray for public debate over car shed row, recalls Cong stance

On Friday, BJP challenged Maharashtra Environment Minister Aaditya Thackeray for a public debate on shifting of Mumbai Metro 3 car shed from Aarey to Kanjurmarg plot. BJP MLA Ashish Shelar lamented that state government had glossed over fact that re is ongoing litigation on land allocated for car shed. According to him, legality of decision to allocate this land to MMRDA for developing car shed is under question.

In reference to Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade's claim that Kanjurmarg plot belongs to Centre, Shelar alleged that Congress government in 1983 had adopted same stance. In fact, he highlighted that former CM Devendra Fadnavis and BJP state president Chandrakant Patil had tried ir best to establish Maharashtra government's ownership of land. According to BJP MLA, delay caused due to latest row was simply due to "arrogant style of functioning". 

BJP MLA Ashish Shelar remarked, "Instead of giving secret interviews, please answer our pointed questions. We are ready to debate with you (Aaditya Thackeray) at any forum. You can’t deny that a person named Sumerlal Bafna has filed a writ petition on Survey 258 A, where land for car shed has been allocated. In 1997, a stay order has come.  district collector said in October 2020 that re is a lack of clarity on this. legality of decision to transfer land merely on opinion of Advocate General is under a cloud."

He added, " Mumbai Metro project is getting delayed because of car shed row triggered by you (CM). You are completely responsible for delay in Metro project owing to decision taken in arrogance. I want to tell you that a Congress government in 1983 adopted stance that land allocated for car shed in Kanjurmarg belongs to Centre. This is same party with whom you are sharing power.  From 2014 to 2018, BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis and Chandrakant Patil made efforts to establish that this land belongs to Maharashtra government."

Read: 'People Of Mumbai Will Have To Suffer': BJP Blames MVA Govt Over Latest Metro Car Shed Row

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

latest flashpoint over Metro car shed

Maharashtra government's decision to shift Mumbai Metro 3 car shed from Aarey to Kanjurmarg has come under a cloud after Centre's intervention. In a letter addressed to Maharashtra Chief Secretary Sanjay Kumar on vember 3, DPIIT claimed that land allocated for car shed in Kanjurmarg belongs to Union government. contention is that this salt pan land is remit of Salt Commissioner who reports to DPIIT. 

As per DPIIT, Centre had incurred severe loss due to state government's decision. letter requested Maharashtra Chief Secretary to restrain MMRDA from developing car shed at Kanjurmarg plot. department maintained that this step was necessary to protect interests of Central government. 

Read: Maha CM Uddhav Thackeray Orders Withdrawal Of Police Charges Against Aarey Protesters