Mumbai: The Clean and Heritage Colaba Residents Association (CHCRA) has moved the Bombay High Court seeking urgent restraint on the Maharashtra government from carrying out any piling work for its proposed passenger jetty and terminal facilities project near the Gateway of India.
The residents have filed an application, through advocate Prerak Chaudhary, in their PIL seeking urgent relief.
The residents claim that despite the state government’s assurance on May 2 that it would not demolish the sea-facing wall near P J Ramchandani Marg until June 20, preparatory piling activity resumed the very next day. According to their application, concrete pillars and piling material were brought back to the site on May 3, raising concerns that irreversible work may begin ahead of the next hearing.
“The process of fixing concrete piles into the seabed involves heavy drilling and hammering, which can cause structural damage to the sea wall and nearby heritage buildings,” the application states. It adds that once these piles are installed, they would be nearly impossible to remove, potentially causing permanent environmental and structural impacts.
The residents point out that a piling barge had earlier been brought to the site in late March but was removed following their protests. No further piling activity occurred throughout April. However, by the end of the month, part of the P J Ramchandani promenade had been barricaded and markings appeared on the wall, suggesting a renewed push for construction.
On May 2, the state assured the court that no demolition would be carried out before June 20. In light of this, the petitioners argue that resuming piling work just a day later is a breach of trust and an attempt to make the project a fait accompli before the matter is fully heard.
“It is only after the order of this Honble Court dt 2d May fixing the hearing of the Petition on 16'h June, that the Respondents 1 & 2 have surprisingly decided to restart and proceed with the erection/ fixing of piles,” the application read.
Meanwhile, another PIL by three residents of Colaba and Cuffe Parade, representing over 150 residents, business owners and visitors of Colaba, was mentioned before the bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice MS Karnik which scheduled the plea for hearing on May 7.
