HC raps BMC: Illegal compound wall at Kanjurmarg dumpyard

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday came down heavily on the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) for violating the norms of coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) by constructing an illegal compound wall around the Kanjurmarg dumping ground. A division bench of Chief Justice DH Waghela and Justice MS Sonak while hearing a petition filed by MCGM slammed the civic body and asked it to spell out when the body is planning to demolish the illegal structure.

The court suggested the corporation to put up fencing around the periphery of the dumping ground. The MCGM through its petition has challenged the order of the Cen- tral Government which in 2013, directed the civic body to demolish the compound wall since it falls under the CRZ and as per rules no construction can be done on CRZ land.

Senior counsel MU Kamdar, who appeared for the civic body, accepted the fact that the wall was illegal but he also placed a justification that this was the only dumping ground in the city and wall was constructed to protect the area from encroachment by anti-social elements.

After being asked by the court, Kamdar informed the court that the civic body had approached Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) seeking regularization of the compound wall but the civic body’s application is still pending with them.