The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation's (MMRC) lies have been exposed again. Despite its claim that it has all permissions in place for the Metro-III work in Aarey, environmental activists have stumbled upon a letter from the suburban district collector'
MMRC has already begun work on land near Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road
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The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation's (MMRC) lies have been exposed again. Despite its claim that it has all permissions in place for the Metro-III work in Aarey, environmental activists have stumbled upon a letter from the suburban district collector's office in Bandra that proves it's all bunkum.
The letter states that any construction work on the 3-hectare land given to the MMRC near the Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road is subject to the order of the National Green Tribunal in the Vanashakti vs Union of India application, being heard since 2015. Besides, the MMRC is yet to change the land use reservation from a no development zone to take up construction activities.
Aarey Conservation Group member Stalin D, who also heads NGO Vanashakti, said he found the letter, dated September 19, 2016, after filing an RTI application at the suburban collector's office in Bandra. "The letter is proof that MMRC's work in Aarey is illegal."
Another activist said although the land has been handed over to the MMRC, it is still categorised as a no development zone. Activists fear that work on the Metro-III car depot at Aarey will cause irreparable damage to the lung space's biodiversity. They now plan to submit a copy of the letter to Aarey police station for further action.