The state government informed the Bombay HC that the 12-floor sea-facing residential tower meant for high court judges and IAS officials is financed by the state government funds.
The HC has asked the state to submit heritage committee permission letters to the court on January 8
MUMBAI: The state government on Wednesday informed the Bombay High Court that the 12-floor sea-facing residential tower meant for high court judges and IAS officials is being financed by the state government funds and not by the World Bank (WB) as alleged by Walkeshwar residents.
New Shri Sagar Co-operative Housing Society, Jogani Co-operative Housing Society and resident Madhav Pittie had filed a petition alleging violations by the state government and the BMC in allowing the construction of the residential quarters using WB funds.
Government pleader D Nalavade clarified on Wednesday that the residential building was meant to house state government officials and not high court judges. Chief justice Swatanter Kumar asked, “Why are they using judges’ name then?” Nalavade said earlier, the quarters were meant for high court judges, but after the prothonotary of the court submitted a letter saying they did not need additional flats for judges, it now catered only to state officials.
A separate plea moved before the court by Madhav Pittie, a resident of a building adjoining the plot, has sought a stay on further construction on the plot at Rocky Hill, Walkeshwar. Pittie, who lives in the five-storeyed Suket building along with his and his brother’s family, has contended that the proposed 12-floor building will overshadow other buildings in its vicinity, directly affecting light and sea view.
On Wednesday, Pittie’s advocate Pradeep Havnur told the court that the building was being built in a Coastal Regulation Zone (II) and that any such project over Rs5 crore on the said land needed a prior sanction from the union ministry of environment and forest. He also said nothing had been put on record to show that the state government has taken the heritage committee’s permission for the construction. As per the petition, the Rs145.18 crore project entails 35 residential quarters for serving high court judges and IAS officials. However, Nalavde said the state had allocated only Rs5 crore for the project till now.
Chief Justice Kumar and Justice JP Devadhar have now asked the state to submit heritage committee permission letters to the court on January 8.
Havnur added that between December 7 and December 18, the construction of two more floors was over and when the court hears the case on January 8, at least two more floors will have come up. He sought a stay on the construction, saying that it affected his sea-view and the breeze. The court, however, did not grant a status quo.
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