Saturday, Apr 27, 2024 | Last Update : 04:47 AM IST
Civic body plan to acquire land for Byculla zoo delayed
In a bid to revive the zoo, the BMC has planned to construct an exotic zoo on the controversial parcel of land.
Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) ambitious plan to revive and turn the Veermata Jijabai Udyan (VJU) or Rani Baug at Byculla into an exotic zoo by taking over 28,000 sq mt of land has been delayed. Mafatlal Industries has raised objection over the issue of possession of the land. According to officials, the Bombay high court has directed both the BMC and Mafatlal Industries to maintain status quo till the issue of possession of land is sorted out.
Justice K.K. Tated was hearing a writ petition filed by Mafatlal Industries after the Dr S.A. Tripathi, in-charge Director (Zoo) issued a letter to the company, asking it to remove its security personnel from the plot that was adjacent to the zoo. The plot was also earmarked as VJU extension in the letter written by Dr Tripathi.
Senior counsel for Mafatlal Industries, D.J. Khambatta informed the court that despite the issue of possession of the 28,000 sq mt land pending in the court, the director’s letter was misleading and hence the BMC should be asked to maintain status quo.
According to advocate Milind Sathe who appeared on behalf of one of the respondents, both the BMC and Mafatlal claimed to have possession of the land, and the court will decide on the issue.
Speaking to The Asian Age, senior counsel Anil Sakhare for BMC said that the civic body owned 50 per cent of the land, which it received directly from the government in January. He added that Mafatlal Industries claimed that it has interest in the plot and raised an objection to the letter written by Dr Tripathi. “We hope that the issue will be resolved in the next hearing,” said Sakhare.
In a bid to revive the zoo, the BMC has planned to construct an exotic zoo on the controversial parcel of land. Dr Tripathi said that plans for the zoo were approved by the Central Zoo Authority and six to seven species of exotic animals like zebras, antelopes and the Humboldt penguins were to be brought and kept in a special climate-controlled by environments.
After hearing the argument of Mafatlal Industries, the judge directed both parties to maintain a status quo. The next date for the hearing is April 13.
