Mumbai: The Bombay high court on Thursday said that the government’s ‘Make In India’ function at Girgaon Chowpatty beach in south Mumbai in 2016, which had to be abandoned after a huge fire gutted the stage, caused considerable destruction and damage to the beach. It also asked the Maharashtra government to repair and restore the damaged portions of the beach within two months.
The high court also directed the state to take action against officials, who are guilty of conniving with businesses to cause damage to public places. The court has directed demolition of all structures that have come up on the beach in violation of CRZ norms. The petitioner also prayed to recover damages from those guilty of erecting structures on the beach. A division bench of Justices Abhay Oka and Riyaz Chagla was pronouncing an order in a public interest litigation filed by Mumbai resident Amit Maru through advocate Aditya Pratap regarding damage to the beach due to commercial and public activities allowed by the BMC. The petitioner had also alleged that these activities had violated various CRZ norms.
The petitioner elaborated on the damage caused due to commercial activities.
On hearing a petition on the 2016 fire at Chowpatty in the run-up to a ‘Make in India’ event, the Bombay HC asked the authorities, including the government and BMC to pull up their socks.
The petitioner elaborated on the damage caused due to commercial activities by a hotel and a public event that was abandoned after a massive fire engulfed the stage.
While dictating the order the court gave the municipal corporation of Greater Mumbai and the Maharashtra coastal zone management authority three months’ time within which to conduct an inquiry. The report of the outcome of enquiry will also be given to the petitioner.
The Maharashtra coastal zone management authority also directed initiation criminal prosecution proceedings if necessary against private persons and public servants behind the damage.
Commenting on the order, advocate Pratap said, “This is a landmark order because it calls for strict action against public servants, who willingly conspire and allow illegal constructions. Only strong action against search delinquent public servants will ensure that the menace of illegal constructions is controlled.”
