By: Ashwin Aghor
Mumbai: Considerable confusion surrounds the status of the Metro 3 Car Shed at Aarey Milk Colony as despite Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray soon after taking charge was to announce stoppage of construction work on the Metro car shed site, that is because the government has not issued any Government Resolution (GR) in this regards. Instead, the government has merely issued a letter stating that all the construction work at Aarey Milk Colony site be stopped till further orders.
Interestingly, the same Shiv Sena, Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government was quick to issue a GR on the launch of the ‘Shiv Bhojan’ scheme. Critics while slamming the government remarked that the government has not found time to actually stop the work after making an emotional announcement to protect the natural wealth. The opposition has already trained guns at the government over the delay in finding the alternate site.
It may be recalled that Thackeray soon after assume the charge as the Chief Minister had amidst the emotional theatrics announced stopping all the construction work at the metro car shed at Aarey Milk Colony. Playing to the gallery, Thackeray had remarked, “not even plucking of a leaf, let alone cutting a tree, would not be allowed at the cost of development. I will not tolerate the destruction of natural wealth at any cost.”
After the announcement, the government issued a letter stating that all the construction work of the car shed at Aarey Milk Colony should be stopped till further orders and search for alternative site began. A committee was also formed to weigh the different options available for Metro 3 Car Shed. The committee, that began its work on December 11, was directed to submit the report within a fortnight. But the committee is yet to submit its report to the government.
“This is nothing but criminal waste of tax payers’ money, that even after 34 days and the expiry of the deadline given to the committee, the government is yet to arrive at any decision. The delay will cause a major setback to the project which will benefit millions of commuters who are forced to travel under inhuman conditions today,” said state BJP vice president Kirit Somaiya.
Minister Nawab Malik, among many other alternatives suggested by citizen activists, had suggested that the metro car shed should be shifted to SRPF land in Jogeshwari. Somaiya came down heavily on the suggestion saying that none of them would be feasible. “It is nothing less than sounding a death knell for the project. The alternative suggested by Malik or others are not economically as well as technically viable. We must keep it in mind that, those suggesting alternative sites, had even gone up to Supreme Court and their petitions were rejected”.
He alleged that there are some elements who are working overtime so that few private people get benefit up to Rs 4,000 Cr by delaying the project. “As per our information, the committee has opined that the current site for car shed is the most appropriate. We appeal the chief minister not to be pressurised and help two private land owners walk away with Rs 4,000 Cr,” Somaiya said.
Shiv Sena spokesperson Dr Manisha Kayande agreed that the government has not yet issued a GR to officially stay the on-going work at Metro 3 Car Shed site at Aarey Milk Colony. “This is because the work has not been stayed but asked to be reviewed for better environmental purposes. The government stands with its commitment to serve people but not at the cost of environment,” she said.
Stalin Dayanand, Director, Projects, Vanashakti, who spearheaded the citizen’s movement against metro car shed at Aarey, said, “It is true that the government has not issued any GR, but just a letter. Now, it is up to the government to take the decision. It is a matter of political will to save the environment.”
