HC's Mumbai metro car shed land order slap on govt's face, says BJP

  Uddhav Thackeray government in Maharashtra has "fallen flat on its face" with Bombay High Court staying allotment of salt pan land in Kanjurmarg area of Mumbai for construction of an integrated Metro car shed, BJP said on Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters, BJP leader Atul Bhatkhalkar said metro car shed project had been transferred to Kanjurmarg from Aarey Colony, a prominent green lung of city, by Shiv Sena-led government with only motive to settle a political score with BJP.

Ar BJP leader and former MP Kirit Somaiya demanded resignation of state environment minister Aaditya Thackeray, son of CM Uddhav Thackeray, for his insistence to shift project to Kanjurmarg.

High Court has stayed an order passed by Mumbai suburban district collector allotting 102 acres of salt pan land in Mumbai's Kanjurmarg area for construction of an integrated Metro car shed.

A division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice G S Kulkarni also restrained authorities from carrying out any construction work at said land.

Bombay High Court's order has come as surprise to us. site is under ownership dispute, but Thackeray government refused to pay heed to facts and pushed Metro-3 car shed project ahead (in Kanjurmarg) only to settle a political with BJP. y have fallen flat on ir face,  BJP leader said.

Centre and Shiv Sena-led MVA government are locked in a tussle over ownership of land earmarked by state for constructing car depot which was earlier planned at Aarey Colony, a green belt in suburban Goregaon.

Union government had filed a petition in high court challenging October 1, 2020 order passed by collector allotting land for construction of car shed, and said land belongs to its (Centre's) salt department.

Bhatkhalkar said n BJP government in state had decided to begin construction of metro car shed in Aarey Colony after proper due diligence.

"Similar discussions and orders were issued in 2015, when BJP was leading Maharashtra government. Our government had properly studied project hence it decided to construct car shed on Aarey land," he added.

Demanding resignation of Aaditya Thackeray, Somaiya said that his insistence is going to cost state dearly. It is fault of Aaditya Thackeray who unnecessarily insisted on shifting car shed to Kanjurmarg.

Meanwhile, in an editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamana', Sena said metro car shed project on Kanjurmarg site will move ahead "leaving behind bullet train".

Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train is an ambitious project of Narendra Modi government.

Without naming BJP, Sena said opposition party did t leave a single opportunity to stall development of Mumbai.

It said time has come to think seriously about those who are trying to put roadblocks in project work.

On Tuesday, BJP leaders targeted MVA government over shifting of metro car shed project, contending it will escalate project cost.

"Skies will t fall on Central government if car shed takes shape in Kanjurmarg," Sena said.

edit said Thackeray government actually "saved" Aarey forest by shifting project to Kanjurmarg and should have been praised for same.

Steps were taken to stop Kanjurmarg car shed from coming into existence. Let one make any effort. car shed will move ahead leaving behind bullet train. car shed will t be able to stop political salt satyagraha,  Sena said, adding that Kanjurmarg land is property of people of Maharashtra.

Uddhav Thackeray-led party accused Centre of trying to put a spanner in works carried out in Maharashtra, but t in BJP-ruled states.

It said previous Devendra Fadnavis government had legally claimed that Kanjurmarg land belonged to state government only.

" Salt Commissioner of Delhi did t wake up from sleep n. But after a decision was taken (by MVA government) to shift Aarey metro car shed to Kanjurmarg, Commissioner was made to wake up," Sena alleged.

party also said re was need to produce salt from Kanjurmarg salt pan land as state has a long coastline stretching from Mumbai to Konkan.

state government will supply salt to Centre if re is any short,  Sena said. 

(IM CREDITS: Twitter/@BhatkhalkarA)