Mumbai: The Maharashtra government has informed the Bombay High Court that it has removed illegal portions from seven structures / constructions near Mumbai International Airport that violate safety norms and pose a risk to aircraft, warning that failure to do so would invite strict action.
The action was taken by Collector pursuant to HC order in a PIL by activist Yeshwant Shenoy raising concerns over aviation safety and seeking the removal of unauthorised buildings around the airport. Shenoy argued that despite previous violations, new constructions continued to emerge, making strict monitoring essential.
In an affidavit, suburban Mumbai collector Rajendra Chavan said, “All the obstructions on the structures mentioned in MIAL’s affidavit dated 06.07.2022 are removed… MIAL is apprised with the developments in the obstruction removal at each step and they have verified the removal of unauthorised construction and submitted the report to DGCA, which in turn has confirmed compliance to this office.”
Assistant government pleader Neha Bhide placed the compliance report before a bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep Marne, which recorded the progress and adjourned the public-interest litigation for four weeks.
The PIL, filed by aviation-safety activist Yeshwant Shenoy, has sought removal of unauthorised structures in the flight path citing risk to aeroplanes. He has pointed out that DGCA has passed orders of demolition of some of these structures about ten years back, but no action has been taken.
Acting on the PIL, the bench in April ordered the collector to proceed against eight specific buildings identified by Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Tuesday’s affidavit details full compliance for seven of them; action on the eighth, which partly enjoys statutory protection, is underway.
“Owners have removed permanent fixtures such as water tanks, antennas and iron pipes and truncated concrete portions to the permissible height,” the affidavit noted, adding that MIAL engineers carried out spot inspections before DGCA issued final clearance.
To prevent recurrences, the state has directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to issue demolition notices under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act. “Our office is in coordination with MIAL, MMRDA and the MCGM for any further action,” the affidavit read.
