in MMRCL: HCMumbai, Oct 13 (PTI) The Bombay High Court today saidthat one of the reasons the Metro III project was facingopposition from the residents was their lack of confidence inthe Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL).
A bench of Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice N MJamdar also said the way of life and thought process of thepeople in Mumbai were different from that of those in citieslike Delhi and Kochi, where metro projects proceededunhindered.
The bench proposed that a committee comprising experts,some residents and a high court judge be constituted tosuggest ways to minimise the impact and damage caused to theenvironment by the Metro III work.
"The public should feel happy about what you (MMRCL) aredoing. In the present case, the public has no confidence inyou. They aren't sure if what you are doing is right, perhapsbecause you are not transparent or you are not able tocommunicate with the public," the court said.
It directed the advocate general to suggest the names ofthose, who should be there in the committee.
"However, the residents in the committee should be wisemen. They should not be abnormal, over-sensitive people.
Because, there are some people who are so sensitive that theyget irritated even if a chair is being dragged," Chief JusticeChellur said.
The directions came while the bench was hearing apetition alleging violation of noise pollution norms by theMMRCL in the construction of the Metro III line.
In August, acting on the petition, the court had passedan interim order, restraining the MMRCL from carrying out anyconstruction or ancillary work on the Metro III line between10 pm and 6 am.
The MMRCL, however, had sought permission from the courtfor using heavy vehicles and machinery for transportingconstruction debris, mud etc. at night.
While the bench refused to vacate the stay today, itdirected the MMRCL to submit the details of all the work itintends to do over the next three months, the work it wishesto do at night and the reasons why it must only be done atnight. It also directed the MMRCL to release its work scheduleon its website.
The bench, however, also reiterated that it had nointention of halting the Metro project.
Meanwhile, in a related matter, the bench directed theMMRCL to implement the curative measures suggested by acourt-appointed committee, which is studying the damagingeffects of the tunneling work for the Metro III line on theheritage buildings of South Mumbai. PTI AYA NPRC.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.