HC stops work, respite for 2 Parsi temples

MUMBAI: The Bombay high court on Wednesday temporarily stopped the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) from tunneling or excavating areas beneath two Atash Behrams — the holiest Parsi fire temples — in South Mumbai, saying any damage caused to the structures could create an irreversible situation. The court has now appointed an expert panel to study if the construction work will affect the temples, and has scheduled the next hearing on August 6.

The MMRCL is building the Mumbai Metro-3 line in the area.

A division bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Riyaz Chagla issued the restraint, and also took into consideration the fact that neither the state government nor the MMRCL had consulted an independent expert to assess if the construction work could cause damage to the two religious places.

Acting on a petition filed by one Jamshed Sukhdawala, who has been a key petitioner, the court also appointed the Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI) as an expert agency to study the possible effect of the construction of both the metro line and the proposed Kalbadevi station, on the Zoroastrian temples.

The VJTI team will submit its report in court in 10 days. Sukhdawala has sought a realignment of the line, pointing to dangers to the structural stability of the Zarthosti Anjuman and the HB Wadiaji Atash Behrams.

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