Mumbai: In spite of NGT’s stay order on Aarey colony, the MMRCL is seeking police protection to begin the work of soil testing. While residents and activists were kept away from the site, they alleged that the police has stated the matter to be technical and is ordered by their seniors to give protection.
The local police called activists and local residents to the police station on Tuesday where the DCP asked them to stay out of unit 19 as MMRCL has all required permissions to conduct soil testing. This discussion went on for nearly four hours. Biju Augustine, environment activist associated with Aarey Conservation Group explained that the police did not consider the the NGT stay order that he had presented to them.
Mr Augustine commented saying, “With this move, it is clear that MMRCL is above law.” Though the workers began the work of soil testing, no MMRCL official was present on the spot. The police that kept the activists away from the spot was present throughout the day.
According to people present near the spot, two busloads of policemen were deployed at unit 19 to supervise the setting up of machinery. “The agency has shown that it has utter contempt for the law, Project Affected People (PAP) and citizens,” said an ACG member. She further added, “There were five of us against some 40 officers and constables. We had no intent of creating a ruckus, they may mean to scare or create psychological pressure.”
The issue had come to light when the contractor hired by MMRC had visited unit 19 of Aarey colony on March 24 and placed a soil-testing machine. The PAPs and activists had gathered and sought explanation from the contractor after which the contractor had come up with a letter that quoted NGT’s January 5 order.
The order, however, allowed them to work only on the 3 hectares land-bordering Aarey. Speaking to The Asian Age then, R Ramana, executive director (planning) MMRC, had said, “We have all permissions on place. People who have issues should approach the local police.” The spokesperson of the contractor remained unavailable for comment.
