19 May,2017 10:30 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet Jadhav
Even as the order vacating stay rolled in, the MMRC called for tenders to shift transmission towers on site to aid construction
The site of the proposed carshed for Metro III
In what appears to be yet another signal of the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation's over-confidence that the NGT ruling in the car depot for Metro III at Aarey Colony case will land in their favour, the MMRC have revealed plans to shift the Reliance Infrastructure power supply towers, currently standing on the proposed site to another location.
SC ruling bolsters
The decision to float tenders for the shift came about after a major boost from the Supreme Court ruling that has upheld the high court's order and vacated the stay on the chopping of trees along the alignment between Coloba to Seepz. Now, the only hurdle in the MMRC's way is the NGT's pending judgment.
Also read - Mumbai: Activists call meeting to save Aarey at any cost
An MMRC official said, "There are electricity towers passing via the proposed car depot site. We will have to shift these lines, and so tenders have been invited."
Fight for Aarey
Following the high court ruling, the green activists, led by Nina Verma, filed a special leave petition in the SC on May 5. In the hearing on Thursday, the SC dismissed the plea and upheld the HC's vacated stay order.
Also read - Save Aarey: Activists return frustrated after meeting with MMRC
Meanwhile, a green activist fighting for the cause said, "The SC has directed us to go back to the HC-appointed committee (i.e. 2 judges appointed by HC) and place all the facts before it. Whether this committee is empowered to go into the issue of need for removal of trees is not clear. We will have to wait till the order is uploaded to read the exact details; fingers crossed."
