Govt can’t shut eyes to SGNP contributing more to city than BMC’s annual budget: HC

As per a survey released by authorities Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar successful 2022 and conducted by experts from IIT-Bombay, the economical worth of SGNP ecosystem services is implicit Rs 15 lakh crore oregon Rs 146 crore per hectare.

The HC reiterated that a high-powered committee headed by the wood curate shall travel up with measures to rehabilitate eligible residents of lodging complexes and settlements of slum dwellers successful SGNP astatine the earliest arsenic the encroachments were causing difficulties to wood authorities.

A part seat of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar was proceeding a plea filed by Samyak Janhit Seva Sanstha, an relation of residents from slums astatine SGNP, representing astir 16,929 slum dwellers who had paid fees suggested by the HC successful its order, on with 4,691 slum dwellers who could not wage the fees.

The plea had sought directives to assorted cardinal and authorities authorities to supply alternate accommodation arsenic directed successful earlier HC orders which fixed the deadline for rehabilitation.

On August 22, the seat had observed that it was expedient for the authorities authorities to travel up with a rehabilitation scheme.

On Monday, Advocate General Birendra Saraf, for the authorities government, said that helium had communicated concerns expressed by the HC connected August 22 to the Principal Secretary of the section acrophobic and helium had further followed up the matter.

However, the process of arriving astatine a factual determination is apt to instrumentality much time, Saraf added and sought 2 weeks’ clip to transportation the committee.

CJ Upadhyaya, portion appreciating efforts by Saraf, said the authorities indispensable recognize the concerns raised by the court.

“There has been a survey conducted by immoderate adept body. Perhaps by IIT-Bombay. SGNP’s publication is overmuch much than the yearly budget of BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) arsenic per the study. Just ideate that contribution. You (state) cannot conscionable unopen your eyes. The survey conducted quantifies publication successful presumption of wealth If these figures are not going to determination them (high-powered committee), past what is going to? Only persuasion volition not do… Those astatine the helm indispensable understand. Our patience should not beryllium tested,” CJ Upadhyaya orally remarked.

“We recognize owed to impending elections you whitethorn postpone. But spell done those studies and spot the publication which has been quantified. People of Mumbai indispensable know. See the quantified publication successful presumption of rupees. It indispensable beryllium publicised truthful that radical of Mumbai indispensable know. Entire h2o proviso for the metropolis comes from determination (SGNP area),” the justice added.

The tribunal requested Saraf to coordinate with the committee to enactment retired a solution astatine the earliest and directed the Member Secretary of the said committee to record an affidavit giving details of steps taken truthful acold for ensuring rehabilitation.

The HC volition perceive the substance adjacent connected October 9.