Mumbai metro car shed case may go to SC

After the Bombay High Court ordered a freeze on the Mumbai car shed project, there's speculation the Maharashtra government may take the matter to the Supreme Court.

Mumbai:Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Wednesday indicated that the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government may move Supreme Court in connection with Mumbai suburban district collector's allotment of 102-acre Kanjurmarg salt pan land for Metro car shed.

The comes in the backdrop of the Bombay High Court temporarily pausing the construction of a metro car shed project in Mumbai at its new site. A division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice G S Kulkarni also restrained the authorities from carrying out any construction work at the said land.

Pawar, without taking the name of BJP, said, "The decision to shift the car depot project from Aarey Colony to Kanjurmarg seemed to have 'hurt a lot of people' and that is why the Centre took an 'extreme step'.

"In the Constitution and law, there is a provision of making an appeal against a court decision. We will think on this line," he added.

Despite opposition from environmentalists and activists to the vast tree-cutting for the project, the then BJP-led government had decided to construct the car shed for the Mumbai Metro line 3 at Aarey Colony.

The present MVA government, comprising of Shiv Sena, INC and NCP, had decided in October to shift the car shed from Aarey to Kanjurmarg.

The Union government had claimed the entire salt pan land in the area, including the 102 acres allotted to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), belongs to the Centre's salt department.

READ:Last day of Maharashtra Assembly winter session: All you need to know

Pawar said, "Be it state or Central govt, there should be no obstruction in the developmental works."

"I have seen (NCP chief Sharad) Pawar Sahebs 50 to 55 years of political career. I am also in political field for the past 30 years. I never bring politics in developmental works, rather we help," he added.

Water Resources Minister Jayant Patil said, "The final matter will be heard in February and we hope that there will be no change."

Maharashtra Environment Minister Aaditya Thackeray said he is waiting for the court's detailed order.

He also said the land is crucial for the Metro project as it will save almost Rs 5,500 crore of government money.

"Honble HC has granted a stay to Kanjurmarg work. We await the detailed written order to decide the future course of action," he said.

"This land is crucial for Metro Line 6, 4 and 14, apart from 3, as it will save almost Rs 5500 crores of Govt and be a nodal point for 1 crore citizens," Thackeray tweeted

Senior Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam said that people of Mumbai were against the construction of Metro Car Shed and I feel that Kanjurmarg is the best option.

He tweeted, "People of Mumbai were against the construction of Metro Car Shed. There is no better option than Kanjurmarg. The Bombay High Court has neglected the sentiments of common people by stopping Metro Car Shed's construction. It is the work of the government to chalk out and implement strategies."

READ: Maharashtra govt owes lakhs of rupees in water tax