HC pulls up SRA for nod to redvpt of 33 acres in Colaba-Cuffe Parade

The Bombay High Court has pulled up the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) for permitting the redevelopment of 33 acres of prime government land at Colaba-Cuffe Parade, warning that such “largesse” to slum dwellers and private developers cannot come at the cost of public interest.

- FPJ News Service

The court said prime government lands cannot be “permanently extinguished” from public use in a city already starved of gardens and open spaces.

A bench of Justices Girish Kulkarni and Aarti Sathe was hearing petitions filed by Gulab Shankar Mishra, chief promoter of Cuffe Parade SRA CHS Federation (P), and Precaution Properties Pvt Ltd, the developer appointed by the residents. Nearly 65,000 slum dwellers have encroached on the land and are seeking rehabilitation under the SRA scheme. They have challenged the refusal of a NOC by the defence ministry to proceed with an SRA project due to proximity to defence establishments.