14 December,2015 09:02 PM IST | | A Correspondent
Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation seems to have found a new and unexpected ally who supports the construction of the Colaba-Bandra-Seepz Metro line III car depot at Aarey Milk Colony
The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) seems to have found a new and unexpected ally who supports the construction of the Colaba-Bandra-Seepz Metro line III car depot at Aarey Milk Colony. A citizen's group from south Mumbai have filed an intervention application with the National Green Tribunal in which they are saying that the car depot for Metro line III should come up at Aarey Milk Colony as planned.
It should be noted that this group of citizens supporting the car depot construction in Aarey Milk Colony feel that the issue raised by the environmentalists and the groups against the car depot is wrong.
Michael Pereira, a member of the group,which is supporting the construction of car depot in Aarey Milk Colony, has filed an intervention application with National Green Tribunal. "In the intervention application filed with the National Green Tribunal, we have supported the construction of car depot in Aarey Milk colony as it is the most suitable place. The NGOs opposing the project should understand that the project is the need of the hour and what is the problem if the authorities have promised to do the transplantation of the trees that might be cut for the construction of car depot." Pereira said.
Apart from Pereira, a consultant and interior designer, who is the part of the citizen's group, also wants the car depot to come up in Aarey Milk Colony.
On Tuesday, next hearing of the NGT is scheduled and the citizen's group favouring the car depot in Aarey Milk Colony will present their case.
In August this year, mid-day had done a story (Mumbai: After green tribunal order, no more construction in Aarey) in which it was stated that how an order by the National Green Tribunal directed the BMC not to give any nod for construction in Aarey Colony, which is an Eco-Sensitive Area; it has also directed the civic body to take immediate action if any illegal construction is found taking place.
The NGT is hearing a plea filed by NGO Vanashakti and a few others, which seeks the declaration of Aarey Colony as a No Development Zone (NDZ).
