Colaba Jetty Row: ‘No Official Stop Work Order, Work Can Resume,’ Says Colaba Police Amid Residents’ Outrage

Mumbai: The residents of south Mumbai were shocked to see barricading by the Maritime Board and heavy police force deployed at proposed Colaba jetty site near the Gateway of India. Though the authorities had promised to stop the work of the jetty until the protesting residents get their queries satisfactorily answered, the police said their there was no official stop work order and Maritime Board can start the work.

"We have deployed police force to avoid maintain the law and order situation at the site. Some residents barged in the barricades on Wednesday night and Thursday morning, and demanded the workers documents. They also wrote on the walls," said Pramod Bhowate, Senior Inspector from Colaba Police station.

Asked if the Maritime Board start the work delayed stop work order, Bhowate said, "There is no stop work order issues on paper. It was verbal communication. If Maritime Board wants to start work, they can. It's a government project with all clearances. We have deployed police force to ensure if work is started, unforeseen situation is created," Bhowate said speaking with the FPJ on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Laura Dsouza, an activist and resident of Cuffe Parade who was on site on Thursday said, "The government has fooled the residents of Colaba. The work has began. We want to save heritage of Colaba. The jetty will create traffic mayhem across south Mumbai.

Meanwhile, the Clean and Heritage Colaba Residents Association (CHCRA) who has been leading the protest against the jetty, is still yet to file a writ petition or a public interest litigation against the project. However, seeing the barracading, the CHCRA is set to file a writ petition in the Bombay High court on Friday, sources said.

The Colaba jetty is proposed at the Apollo Bunder, between Gateway of India and Radio Club. Rs 229 crore have been sanctioned for the project, which includes a jetty terminal and amphitheatre. The ground breaking ceremony was held by minister of fisheries and ports Nitesh Rane in March, despite objections to the project by the residents. Soon after the CHCRA vehemently started protesting against the project, met the minister Rane along with local MLA and speaker of assembly Rahul Narwekar.

From March 29 a verbal stop work was given to the project by minister Rane. The CHCRA had demanded to not resume any work until their demanded 27 list of documents are handed over by the authorities. The residents have asked for documents including approvals from various departments, feasibility studies and others.

Despite the promise of hand over the documents by April 10 and later by April 22, the CHCRA is still waiting for the documents. The residents are objecting the project citing harm to heritage area, traffic jams and other issues. Despite repeated attempts officials from Maritime Board were unavailable for a comment.