NGO in HC over rehab of slumdwellers in Aarey

Mumbai: An NGO has moved Bombay high court, opposing rehabilitation of eligible slum-dwellers of Sanjay Gandhi National Park on 90 acres of land at Marol Maroshi, Andheri (E), as it falls in Aarey Milk Colony and parts of it are a notified forest.
Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar on Monday posted it for hearing on Nov 13.Advocate Tushad Kakalia, representing Vanashakti and activist Zoru Bhathena, said, "the rehab plot itself is in the eco-sensitive zone (of SGNP)."
Vanashakti and Bhathena filed the intervention application (IA) in a PIL by Samyak Janhit Seva Sanstha that seeks rehabilitation of slum-dwellers as per HC's 1997 direction. On Thu, the state govt told HC that Mhada will initiate the bidding process before Dec 1. The IA states that the Oct 3 decision was taken by "suppressing crucial and vital information".
The IA says Supreme Court suo motu took up tree-felling issue in Aarey. In 2019, it recorded the govt's statement not to cut more trees. The present proposal for rehabilitation is not disclosed to SC. Vanashakti and Bhathena have urged HC to recall the Oct 9 order, directing implementation of the Oct 3 decision. TNN