Slum comes in way of Navy helipad

The extension of a naval helipad in Colaba is facing opposition from the most unlikely quarter. Residents of a slum abutting the high-security helipad have moved the Bombay High Court, saying that the Navy is carrying out illegal reclamation which will alter the shoreline.

According to the petition filed by the residents of Sundar Nagari Rahivasi Sangh, the Navy is reclaiming land in the Gun Carriage Basin for the expansion at INS Kunjali in Colaba without obtaining permission. The Navy, however, has denied the allegation.

The basin currently separates the defence helipad from the slum pocket. But, once the helipad is extended, helicopters will land and take off a few meters from the hutments.

The slum dwellers claim the reclamation work, which started two years ago, has obstructed drainage outlets and has caused health hazards. Information obtained under the Right to Information Act showed that the Home Department had not granted permission for the reclamation under the Coastal Regulation Zone rules. The MPCB also said it had not granted environmental clearance. In August 2005, the BMC had issued a stop work notice.

Denying the allegations, the Navy’s garrison engineer, KN Vatti, in his reply to the petition said, in view of the urgent and operational requirement of the Navy, the BMC had granted an exemption under the Development Control Rules in April 2004. It has obtained environmental clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forests and the state revenue and forest department.

The Navy has also produced papers to show that of the 15,000 families in the slum, only 250 are eligible for rehabilitation. “Presently no eviction is being done, but if residents cause a disruption... thus creating security hazards, the eviction proceedings will be taken up in court,” the affidavit said. The case is likely to be heard by the HC on Friday.