No haste from state govt in Adarsh demolition

The Maharashtra government is not showing any undue haste to implement the Union ministry of environment and forests’ order to demolish the scam-tainted Adarsh housing society. Instead, the state environment and urban development departments would independently examine the order.

State environment minister Sanjay Deotale told Business Standard: “One thing is quite clear, that MoEF has reiterated that violations of the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, 1991, committed during the last 20 years would not be condoned.” It was, he said, a strong signal.

Prior to the MoEF order, Adarsh society members had already approached the Bombay high court against disconnection of water and power and revocation of the occupation certificate. They’ve also said they’d challenge the demolition order.

An urban development department official said: “Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), nodal agency for the Backbay Reclamation where the Adarsh society is housed, would be responsible for supervising the demolition as directed by MoEF.” MMDRA, which had given an occupation certificate, revoked it after the controversy came to light in November.

City mayor Shradhha Jadhav said it was not the municipality’s job to to demolish Adarsh, as MMRDA had given all clearances. “If MMRDA seeks BMC’s cooperation in the demolition, the BMC administration will collectively take a decision in this regard,” she said.