Doppler radar land will be handed over by next week: Ajoy Mehta

Mumbai: The Bombay high court on Wednesday exempted municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta from further appearances after he assured the court that the land identified for the doppler radar would be handed over to IMD by next week.

He said it would be done after the general body gives its approval on Thursday. The counsel for the BMC assured the court that the land was not to be used for any other purpose.

During an earlier hearing, a bench headed by Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice M.S. Sonak had asked Mr Mehta to remain present in court on Wednesday. The municipal commissioner informed the court that the hurdles in handing over the land to IMD for installation of the doppler radar had been removed. “The improvements committee has cleared the proposal for handing over the land to IMD and the general body meeting will do the same on Thursday,” informed advocate M.V. Kamdar, counsel for BMC.

As per the understanding between the civic body and IMD, the land will be given on lease for a period of 30 years on payment of Rs 2.2 crore as one-time premium. IMD will have to pay BMC Rs 900 as annual rent for the plot that is located at Jogeshwari. It will be the second doppler radar that will be installed in the city.

The BMC had been delaying handing over the plot on the pretext that it was reserved for a reservoir. However, after the CJ rapped Mr Mehta last week, the improvements committee that had been delaying the matter cleared it on Monday.