BMC asked to clear stand on Wadia Trust land compensation plea

The Bombay High Court today directed the BMC to clear its stand on a petition filed by the Wadia Trust seeking a direction to the civic body to pay a compensation of Rs 430 crore after its land was merged in the Mithi river widening project in 2006.
A division bench of Justices S C Dharmadhikari and G S Patel asked the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to spell out its stand in two weeks.
Wadia trust had approached the high court last year seeking compensation of Rs 430 crore after their land admeasuring over 11,000 square meters was merged in the Mithi river widening project undertaken by the corporation after the July 26, 2005 deluge.

"Since July 2006 the petitioner has been sending letters to the civic body seeking compensation. On January 1, 2008 the corporation sent a letter stating that a policy regarding compensation in lieu of land acquired for the river widening project is being finalised. However, till date nothing has been done," the petition states.
The high court today while directing the civic body to state its stand said, "Your (BMC) officers went and widened the river and hence the land was merged. It is not that the river changed its course leading to this. However, we cannot decide on quantum of compensation. That is up to the civic body."

The court was informed by the BMC lawyer that there are several claims for compensation filed and pending before the civic body.