Complete Kanjurmarg dump hearing in 3 months: SC to HC

MUMBAI: The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Bombay high court, which has been hearing the Kanjurmarg dumpyard case for nine years, to complete the hearing within three months.

The SC was hearing a special leave petition, filed by environment group Vanashakti on January 17, challenging a December 5, 2019, HC order which allowed the expansion of the dumping ground to 121 hectares (ha), from 65ha. The petitioner claimed that the expansion was in violation of coastal regulation zone (CRZ) norms and would damage the ecosensitive zone (ESZ) of the Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary (TCFS).“WE are of the view that the interest of justice would be best served if the HC disposes of the matter pending before it, preferably within a period of three months from today [February 14],” read the SC order. “We also consider it appropriate if the HC obtains the report of an expert body like Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) [to assess the effects of the expansion on TCFS and its ESZ] before taking a final decision,” the bench stated.

“The HC’S December 2019 judgment opened the doors to the annihilation of mangroves at Thane creek,” said Stalin D, director, Vanashakti. Zaman Ali, counsel for Vanashakti, said that although scientific reports of the government on the matter have already been submitted to the HC since 2013, the SC’S order is welcome. Deepak Apte, director, BNHS said, “If the SC asks us to provide scientific inputs, we will highlight the ecological importance of this sanctuary.”

The HC has not passed its final judgement on three petitions by Vanashakti. The latest plea in 2019 challenged the expansion of Kanjur from a CRZ to a non-crz area, for which BMC got environment clearances to carry out scientific waste processing on an additional 52.5-ha area, adjacent to the dumping site. “Permissions from Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority and the environment ministry were issued only as the site lies in Crz-3.waste from all CRZ areas would be taken to this patch for scientific processing,” said a BMC official.

THE HIGH COURT HAS BEEN HEARING THE CASE FOR NINE YEARS