VJTI to study ‘impact’ of Metro III work on Parsi temples
The Bombay High Court on Tuesday asked the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) to seek ‘expert opinion’ on the ‘probable’ damage to two heritage temples of the Parsi community owing to the tunnelling work of Metro III line.
After the suggestion from the division bench of Justices Abhay Oka and Riyaz Chagla, the MMRCL has decided to take help of the Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI) to study the impact of the Metro III work on the fire temples of Parsi community, situated in South Mumbai region.
The bench was seized with a plea filed by trustees of two fire temples, seeking directions to the MMRCL to realign the tunnel for Metro III, as the same would pass directly from under the fire temples.
According to the petition filed by the trustees of two temples, the drilling work for the tunnel would directly pass from under the two fire temples and the Atash Behrams (sacred fires). They have claimed that the tunnel would be routed under the fires at Princess Street and Kalbadevi. The community has also expressed the apprehension that the tunnelling work would desecrate their holy fires and would also lead to drying up of their holy wells.
The MMRCL counsel informed the bench that pursuant to the apprehensions of the community, the tunnel’s alignment has been changed by around five metres, only to avoid any damage to the temples. “However, the tunnel would only touch the verandah area of one of the temples,” senior counsel Shrihari Aney, representing the MMRCL informed the bench.
Aney further ‘assured’ the bench that the tunnelling work will not cause any damage to the heritage temples.
The bench, however, impressed upon him of what if the apprehensions of the community, turn into reality. “What if the apprehensions of the community come true and any of these structures are damaged? You must consider the fact that the repair and restoration work of these structures will then be very difficult,” Justice Oka said.
“Considering that these are heritage structures, don’t you (MMRCL) deem it fit to consult at least one independent expert, which can spell if any damage would be caused or not,” Justice Oka added.
The matter was accordingly adjourned till evening session and when resumed, the bench was informed that the VJTI has been approached for conducting the ‘impact’ study of Metro III work on these heritage structures. The matter would be heard again on Wednesday, to decide the terms of reference (of the study) for the panel under VJTI.
The Bombay High Court on Tuesday asked the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) to seek ‘expert opinion’ on the ‘probable’ damage to two heritage temples of the Parsi community owing to the tunnelling work of Metro III line