Bombay High Court to ban events at Girgaum Chowpatty

The Bombay High Court will pass an order next week that will restrain holding events, even if they are approved by court-appointed committees, at Girgaum Chowpatty.

A division bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice PN Deshmukh indicated that on February 28, it would pass an order to prevent events like the ‘Make In India Week’ to be held. “We don’t want to open a floodgate for other people to come and seek permission for organising events.” The state government held the two-day event at Chowpatty after being granted an ad-interim relief by the Supreme Court. The permission was granted even after the plea was rejected by High Court. A major fire broke out that destroyed the event.

Recently, the High Court-appointed committee submitted a report to the Bombay HC, stating that soil erosion is taking place at the Northern side of the beach. The report stated that soil erosion is taking place near the Walkeshwar Road bend. The water seems to be almost coming onto the road and the concern is that it will cause sand erosion from other parts of the beach.

The state government has admitted that there is soil erosion in a part of Girgaum Chowpatty and steps are being taken to study what caused the erosion and within a year it would be rectified. The court, last week, had directed a joint inspection of the area. It was submitted to the court, which said the Central Water and Power Research Station (Pune), will carry out the study in six months and then tenders will be issued by the Public works department for restoration as per the recommendations.

The HC committee was appointed in 2001 to monitor activities at Chowpatty. The present panel is headed by senior advocate Rafiq Dada and the additional municipal commissioner (city) is the member secretary. The members include Mumbai collector, activist Indrani Malkani, advocates Navroze Seervai and Rajan Jayakar and architect Rahul Mehrotra.

ON LEGAL TRACKS

• The state government held the two-day event at Chowpatty after being granted an ad-interim relief by the Supreme Court.
   
• The permission was granted even after the plea was rejected by HC.
   
• HC-appointed panel submitted a report to the Bombay HC, stating that soil erosion is taking place at the Northern side of the beach.