Milind Deora demanded intervention by state chief secretary Johny Joseph to remove the “ego red tape” to ensure that the project does not stall.
Milind Deora wants chief secretary to ensure the project does not stall
The Rs7-crore Gateway of India restoration plan is going nowhere. It has led to South Mumbai MP Milind Deora demanding intervention by state chief secretary Johny Joseph to remove the “ego red tape” between factions as well as individuals to ensure that the project does not stall.
Meanwhile, the Indian National Trust for Arts and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has insisted that it was not a mere “tree-cutting” organisation and would go all out to protect as much green cover as possible in the Grade I heritage precinct.
Deora told DNA that as Joseph knew everything about the project, he should take the final call on every technical point raised in the plan. “Joseph should call all the concerned departments. It’s a shame that the city has to suffer owing to the delay in implementing the project,” he said.
Pointing at the growing divide between various NGOs and citizens’ groups regarding Mumbai projects, he quipped, “Even political parties do not bicker so much.”
On Monday, Tasneem Mehta, president, INTACH (Mumbai Chapter) said that 60 of the 115 trees to be transplanted by them were actually little shrubs, 3-4 foot high. “The Mumbai Urban Heritage Conservation Committee (MUHCC) wanted us to have a visual axis between the Wittet fountain, Shivaji statue and the monument. There are some tamarind and champa trees coming into the visual axis. They would be transplanted, but the rest would remain untouched. We will compensate the loss by planting thrice the number of trees,” she said.
However, Colaba residents didn’t buy the argument. “Over 75 trees were recently transplanted from Marine Drive to Oval maidan, and half of them have died. No one knows where the Gateway trees would be packed off. We are living in this precinct for over 40 years and we are heading for disaster,” said Lucia Gurung, member, Colaba Tourists District Association (CTDA).
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