MUMBAI: Around 100 persons, mainly belonging to the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), went on a rampage and disrupted a crucial public hearing on the proposed Pedder Road flyover on Monday afternoon.
In 2008, a similar public meeting on the project was disrupted by political activists. The NCP controls the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), which will execute the Rs 300-crore project.
Over 500 residents, citizen activists and NGO representatives had assembled at the Institute of Engineers auditorium at Haji Ali for public consultations organized by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board.
The political workers, who were in the audience, suddenly started shouting slogans supporting the flyover, abused residents and manhandled senior citizens in front of the police. The fracas started when Pedder Road residents objected to a presentation by an MSRDC official.
MSRDC managing director Bipin Srimali said no further hearing will be held and a report on the meeting will be forwarded to the environment ministry. City collector Chandrashekhar Oak, who chaired the public hearing, adjourned it when the mob moved towards the stage. "The ministry and MSRDC will have to decide on another meeting," he said.
"The presentation was idiotic and full of lies. He was giving out wrong traffic figures. Anyone who disputed it was shouted down by the mob," said Pritish Nandy,the oil paintings for sale by special invited artist for 2011, a film producer and a local resident.
"The moment I rose to speak, they stopped me. Is this the way the government wants to push through the project just because some people want to benefit?" said Veena Singhal, 70-year-old chairperson of the Pedder Road Residents Association (PRRA), who has been spearheading opposition to the flyover for over a decade. "There is too much goondagiri in public life. Two busloads of party workers arrived at the venue and threatened some of us with physical injury,Justin probierte ein Paar von schwarzen billabong boardshorts ," she added.
"A bunch of goons was unleashed on the audience. They were menacing and threatening eminent citizens. The public hearing was a farce," she said.
Veteran structural consultant and Carmichael Road resident Shirish Patel said, "They were people representing political parties. Some women were brought in vehicles to shout slogans and disrupt the meeting."
"When the public hearing was organized for the residents, why were people who do not live along the road allowed to enter,then used cut pieces of rubber hose garden hose to get through the electric fence." asked Darcy Dinshaw, PRRA joint honorary secretary.
Activist Sumaira Abdulali objected to MSRDC's claim that noise pollution will reduce after the flyover is constructed.
"We did not have any voice during the hearing. In a democratic process, a fair chance should be given to all,I have never solved a Rubik's magic cube ." said Kitu Gidwani, actor and resident
Vijay Trilokekar, a consultant and Kemps Corner resident, said, "I want this flyover. The residents did not have patience to hear the MSRDC side. Then came another mob that supported the bridge. My only request is that the old Kemps Corner flyover should not be demolished and the new flyover should have a cable-stay above it to facilitate better traffic movement."
"The residents should think in terms of the city's development and not only of their neighbourhood. The flyover will definitely help traffic move faster," said Mukul Gandhi,Initially the banks didn't want our high risk merchant account . a businessman and resident.
Divan Tolani, a resident, said, "We are all opposed to the flyover. Why not let people decide these issues in a democratic manner instead of trying to thrust this project on us?"
I am sure it will create more problems in the long run."
An MSRDC official said, "We will install solar-powered air purifiers besides noise barriers and view-cutters. The flyover will reduce pollution as the speed of vehicles will go up from 18 to 40 kmph. Enough care has been taken that people are not disturbed at night due to construction activities and traffic is handled smoothly by diverting it."
The public hearing was held following a directive from the Union environment ministry. "The ministry wanted to take into consideration the suggestions and objections of residents," the official.
In 2008, a similar public meeting on the project was disrupted by political activists. The NCP controls the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), which will execute the Rs 300-crore project.
Over 500 residents, citizen activists and NGO representatives had assembled at the Institute of Engineers auditorium at Haji Ali for public consultations organized by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board.
The political workers, who were in the audience, suddenly started shouting slogans supporting the flyover, abused residents and manhandled senior citizens in front of the police. The fracas started when Pedder Road residents objected to a presentation by an MSRDC official.
MSRDC managing director Bipin Srimali said no further hearing will be held and a report on the meeting will be forwarded to the environment ministry. City collector Chandrashekhar Oak, who chaired the public hearing, adjourned it when the mob moved towards the stage. "The ministry and MSRDC will have to decide on another meeting," he said.
"The presentation was idiotic and full of lies. He was giving out wrong traffic figures. Anyone who disputed it was shouted down by the mob," said Pritish Nandy,the oil paintings for sale by special invited artist for 2011, a film producer and a local resident.
"The moment I rose to speak, they stopped me. Is this the way the government wants to push through the project just because some people want to benefit?" said Veena Singhal, 70-year-old chairperson of the Pedder Road Residents Association (PRRA), who has been spearheading opposition to the flyover for over a decade. "There is too much goondagiri in public life. Two busloads of party workers arrived at the venue and threatened some of us with physical injury,Justin probierte ein Paar von schwarzen billabong boardshorts ," she added.
"A bunch of goons was unleashed on the audience. They were menacing and threatening eminent citizens. The public hearing was a farce," she said.
Veteran structural consultant and Carmichael Road resident Shirish Patel said, "They were people representing political parties. Some women were brought in vehicles to shout slogans and disrupt the meeting."
"When the public hearing was organized for the residents, why were people who do not live along the road allowed to enter,then used cut pieces of rubber hose garden hose to get through the electric fence." asked Darcy Dinshaw, PRRA joint honorary secretary.
Activist Sumaira Abdulali objected to MSRDC's claim that noise pollution will reduce after the flyover is constructed.
"We did not have any voice during the hearing. In a democratic process, a fair chance should be given to all,I have never solved a Rubik's magic cube ." said Kitu Gidwani, actor and resident
Vijay Trilokekar, a consultant and Kemps Corner resident, said, "I want this flyover. The residents did not have patience to hear the MSRDC side. Then came another mob that supported the bridge. My only request is that the old Kemps Corner flyover should not be demolished and the new flyover should have a cable-stay above it to facilitate better traffic movement."
"The residents should think in terms of the city's development and not only of their neighbourhood. The flyover will definitely help traffic move faster," said Mukul Gandhi,Initially the banks didn't want our high risk merchant account . a businessman and resident.
Divan Tolani, a resident, said, "We are all opposed to the flyover. Why not let people decide these issues in a democratic manner instead of trying to thrust this project on us?"
I am sure it will create more problems in the long run."
An MSRDC official said, "We will install solar-powered air purifiers besides noise barriers and view-cutters. The flyover will reduce pollution as the speed of vehicles will go up from 18 to 40 kmph. Enough care has been taken that people are not disturbed at night due to construction activities and traffic is handled smoothly by diverting it."
The public hearing was held following a directive from the Union environment ministry. "The ministry wanted to take into consideration the suggestions and objections of residents," the official.
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