Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Thursday directed
the district authorities not to submit a survey report made
for the purpose of slum rehabilitation scheme on a 233-acre
piece of land in suburban Dahisar.
It is alleged that Chief Minister Ashok Chavan directed
that survey charges be waived; and the land had mangroves
which are protected by High Court's order.
In response to a PIL filed by Bombay Environmental
Action Group, High Court in 2005 directed that mangroves shall
not be destroyed anywhere in the state.
Newlink Residents' Forum has filed an application in
this PIL, alleging that local corporator is trying to develop
this huge swathe of land which once had lush mangroves.
In 1995, there were some 400 slums on the plot, and the
number has now swelled to 4600, applicants said.
They alleged that corporator Sheetal Mhatre was trying
to develop the land under Slum Rehabilitation Authority
Scheme, and had applied to authorities that charges for survey
(which is necessary for SRA scheme) be waived.
Last month, Chief Minister Ashok Chavan held a meeting
in this regard in his office, and directed district
authorities to waive the charges and submit survey report in
15 days, applicants alleged.
Court directed that report shall not be submitted till
further orders and adjourned hearing for two weeks.
PTI
First Published: Thursday, March 04, 2010, 22:00