'No option but to demolish Adarsh'

Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan today said the state would be left with no option but to demolish Colaba's controversial Adarsh tower if the promoters of the 31-storey residential building did not get an extension on an existing stay order from the Bombay high court or the Union environment ministry. HT reports.

Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan on Saturday said the state would be left with no option but to demolish Colaba's controversial Adarsh tower if the promoters of the 31-storey residential building did not get an extension on an existing stay order from the Bombay high court or the Union environment ministry.

HT Image

The case will be heard on April 13, which is also the deadline for ministry of environment & forests (MOEF) to extend the stay on its demolition notice.

"We have checked state environment laws and they do not allow us to issue a stay on the demolition notice. So if the court does not give an extension, we will be left with no option but to go ahead with the demolition of the building," Chavan told the state assembly on Saturday.

The CM was replying to a question raised about the tower, which is facing action because it violated Coastal Regulation Zone norms by building 31 storeys and not seeking requisite approvals from the environment ministry. It was served a demolition notice three months ago.

Responding to a BJP MLA's demand for the temporary suspension of the officers allegedly involved, on the grounds that they might tamper with the evidence, Chavan said: "None of the officials under the scanner are in a position to influence the case as the papers are all with the judicial commission."