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Corporation carried out soil testing without requisite paperwork, violated NGT order

Concerned citizens and environmentalists filed a police complaint against the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) Limited at Aarey police station on Saturday, alleging that the corporation carried out work on the area’s no-development zone (NDZ), without the requisite paperwork.

A group of 36 citizens, comprising Aarey residents and members of the Aarey Conservation Group (ACG), said the MMRC carried out soil testing with police protection at unit 19 on Thursday, in violation of National Green Tribunal’s January order that issued an interim ban on all constructions.

MMRC plans to construct a car shed for the Metro 3 project at Aarey across a 33-hectare area. However, the NGT’S Pune bench had put an interim stay on any construction at the green lung until final orders are dictated on April 10.

“Aarey colony is a notified NDZ. The proposal by the state to convert Aarey from a NDZ to commercial zone has not yet been sanctioned. In view of this, no work, including soil testing, is permitted at Aarey.the police department is supposed to stop illegal activities and not protect such acts,” reads the locals’ complaint.

Locals attached government documents identifying Aarey as an NDZ and the NGT status-quo order from January 17 restraining any construction.

The complaint requested the police to stop such work and

withdraw police protection. “Kindly lodge a first-information-report (FIR) against MMRC, its officers and contractors for carrying out the illegal work,” read the letter, a copy of which HT has.

Environmentalists said they told the police that they were facilitating the illegal activities at Aarey.

“We requested the police to show us what permissions the

MMRC took to start work at Aarey. They had nothing,” said Stalin D, director, Vanashakti.

Activists said trees near the construction site were marked to be felled in Aarey.

“We know what they are doing is illegal but since they have gone ahead and sought police protection, we thought the police should know what the facts are. We will present the issue before the court,” said Zoru Bathena,

Khar resident and environmental activist.

Aarey police said they had taken cognisance of the complaint.

“As of now, our officers have been instructed to give protection to MMRC contractors. If we find that the MMRC has no permissions, action will be taken against them,” said an officer from Aarey police station.

MMRC officials said all the

permissions were in place. “MMRC conducts its business with the highest level of compliance to legal and regulatory requirements. All work undertaken by MMRC is in accordance with regulatory approvals. We want to assure the citizens and all stakeholders that we are committed towards adherence to the high standards of business and ethical conduct,” said an MMRC spokesperson.