State stops Shivaji memorial construction

MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government on Tuesday directed the project proponents of Shivaji memorial statue to stop construction with immediate effect.

A letter issued by the state public works department (PWD) to the project director of the private company, constructing the statue off the Mumbai coast, highlighted a recent Supreme Court (SC) order and verbal directions to the state’s counsel last Friday to stop going ahead with construction till the matter is heard.

HT has a copy of the letter. “As per intimation of the order dated January 11 passed by the SC, the court has asked the state not to proceed with construction activity of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Memorial (CSMM) in the Arabian Sea. You are requested not to proceed with construction activity with immediate effect,” read the letter issued by the

total project area to be constructed in phase 1 to be constructed in phase 2 executive engineer, CSMM project division, PWD, Cuffe Parade.

HT had reported on Saturday that the SC bench consisting of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice SK Kaul had admitted a special leave petition (SPL), the Arabian Sea in the Back Bay area.

Where: The proposed location is at 1.2 km southwest of Raj

Bhavan, 3.6 km southwest of Girgaum and 2.6km west of Nariman point.

The site location is owned by Mumbai Port Trust which has accorded no-objection certificate

in August 2015 challenging the construction of the Shivaji memorial and issued notices to various respondents from the Maharashtra government and the Centre.

The petition was filed by citybased environmentalist Debi Endangered sea animals such as dolphins, turtles, porpoises, sea birds, and soft corals sponges, algae, crustaceans and planktons that are threatened by this construction

Proposed ferry boats from Nariman Point and the Gateway of India to the project site will be through fishing areas and will interfere in fishing activities

The livelihood of 1.5 lakh fishermen residing across five villages - Cuffe Parade Machimar Nagar, Nariman Point, Geeta Nagar, near Raj Bhawan and Backbay

Goenka from Conservation Action Trust (CAT) after seeking a stay on construction from the Bombay high court (HC). However, the HC did not grant a stay to Goenka’s petition and allowed the construction of the ₹3,600- crore project.

Goenka approached the Apex Court, saying that the Maharashtra government had not called for public consultation before going ahead with the project and had refused to address issues related to loss of marine biodiversity and environmental destruction.

The counsel representing the state was present during the hearing on Friday as the Maharashtra government had filed a caveat prior to CAT moving Supreme Court.

Another letter, which HT has a copy of, issued to the principal secretary, PWD by advocate Nishant R Katneshwarkar, counsel for the state in SC, highlighted the oral directions by the SC bench.

“The court has orally asked the state not to proceed with the construction activity… the state will have to file a counter affidavit in response to SPL. You are, therefore, requested to depute a responsible officer to give instructions to prepare and file a counter affidavit,” the letter read.