High-level Committee visits the controversial 711 Club belonging to Ex Bjp Mla Narendra Mehta's Family
Following the directions given by the western zone bench (Pune) of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the four member high level committee comprising the principal secretary of the state environment department, the principal chief conservator of forest, and representatives from the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) and the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) had yesterday visited the most controversial luxurious 711 Club at Mira Road City which is said to have belonged to former BJP MLA Narendra Mehta.
The club owned by the family of Mehta is an ultra-luxurious recreation facility in Mira Road, but is now under the scanner for defying environmental rules. The action has been taken after the petition was filed before NGT by local resident of the city Adv. Irba Konapure.
The Pune bench of NGT comprising Judicial member Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh and Expert member Dr Vijay Kulkarni observed that complaints were already made in respect of illegal construction as some of the facilities of the hotel like sports club, recreation ground, Lawns, were constructed on reclaimed mangrove forest and water body which was absolutely barred under law, as per CRZ notification, 2011.
Bombay high court had in September 2019 directed the Kanakia police in Mira Road to file a case against 711 Club for alleged CRZ and environmental violations. The petitioner, Dhiraj Parab, an environmental activist, had alleged that club management and Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation (MBMC) officials had destroyed mangroves on 3.5 acres of land to construct the club.
A series of FIR’s under the relevant sections of the Environment Protection Act have been filed against the club. The Thane district collector's report of 2021 had stated that nine FIRs have been filed in the matter. The state government and civic officials are also under the scanner for granting permissions in disregard of mandated guidelines.
IAS Pravin Darade, State principal secretary, Environment Department, SV Ramarao, Upper Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Mangroves), Abhay Pimparkar, Director, Environment & Member Secretary, Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA), Dr. Manik Mahapatra, Scientist, National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (Chennai), Vishal Madane, Under Secretary, Department of Environment and Climate Change, Dr. J. Sangewar, Joint Director Water Department, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, IAS Sanjay Katkar, Commissioner & Administrstor of Mira Bhaindar Municipal Corporation, Dilip Gheware, Town Planner, Mira Bhaindar Municipal Corporation along with complainant Adv. Irba konapure, was present during the site visit done yesterday. The Joint Committee will now submit a factual and 'action taken' report before NGT within four weeks. Next date of hearing is scheduled on 21st November 2023.
