The Union government has moved the Bombay High Court against the reconstruction of Vrindavan Co-Op Housing Society on Sasmira Road in Mumbai’s Worli, alleging that the project received approval from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) despite objections from the Navy.
The redevelopment site is situated around 100 metres from INS Trata, a naval installation under the Western Naval Command. The Centre has claimed that the proposed high-rise could provide a direct view of sensitive naval operations and create security concerns.
The earlier structure was a ground-plus-four-floor building. According to the Centre’s petition, the proposed replacement would “directly overlook the military station, thereby making it susceptible to spying and endangering the life of the defence unit and the life of a naval personnel.”
“The proposed multistorey building would be vulnerable and imminent threat to the defence unit as the activities carried out in the defence unit can be easily under surveillance and monitored from the said building. There is the reasonable apprehension that the proposed building shadows the military defence unit and the activities in the said unit. The Petitioner defence unit is a house of several military vehicles and new munition with other equipments. The activities and the movement are kept confidential in the interest of the national security of the country. However, the proposed building has visual sight of all Trata Sites and has access to all the ongoing sensitive activities,” the Union government stated in its plea.
The dispute dates back to 2007, when an initial proposal received clearance from Western Naval Command headquarters. A revised plan submitted in 2018 proposed a 148.43-metre tower, but was rejected by HQWNC. The BMC subsequently referred revised proposals in 2018, 2019 and 2022, despite increasing heights and earlier objections.
The Centre alleges that BMC eventually granted construction permission in 2023 without a Navy NOC. It cited Defence Ministry guidelines dated May 18, 2011, which require a Defence NOC for construction within 100 metres of a defence establishment and for structures exceeding four floors within 500 metres.
The petition seeks cancellation of the BMC approval, demolition of the construction and an interim stay on further work.
Source: India Today
