Maha lockdown: HC allows vehicle for Matheran essential items

Mumbai, May 16 () The Bombay High Court on Saturdayaccepted a decision taken by a committee set up by the UnionMinistry of Environment and Forests permitting a goods tempoto ferry food and other essential items to Matheran hillstation, some 80 kilometres from Mumbai.

Matheranwas declared an eco-sensitive zone by theUnion Ministry of Environment and Forest in 2003 and novehicles are allowed beyond Dasturi Point, except ambulancesas well as fire brigade and solid waste management vehicles.

Justice S J Kathawalla was hearing a plea filed byformer MLA Suresh Narayan Lad seeking relaxation on vehicularrestrictions inMatherantown so that essential goods can beprovided to the residents in view of the lockdown for thenovel coronavirus outbreak.

The plea sought directions to the MoEF and the Raigaddistrict collector to relax norms to enable small tempos andtrucks to enter the town with essential commodities.

An interim monitoring committee was set up under thechairmanship of Shivaji Daund, Divisional Commissioner, Konkanto hear the petitioner and take appropriate decision.

The court was on Saturday informed that the committeehad permitted the Municipal Council of Matheran to hire agoods tempo to ferry essential items and food once a week tothe town.

The court, while accepting the recommendation,however, directed for the vehicle to be deployed thrice a weekinstead of once.

The court also accepted another recommendation of thecommittee by which a proposal would be submitted to CentralRailway for approving goods transport by attaching dedicatedgoods coaches with the Dasturi Naka-Matheran train.

The petition had stated that nearly 4,500 residentsofMatheranand around 25,000 from neighbouring villages,including tribals and cattle farmers, are dependent on thetown for their livelihood and daily supply of essential items.

As per the petition, even during normal conditions,vehicular traffic in Matheran was restricted and goods weretransported into the town through hand-pulled or horse carts.

However, since the lockdown was imposed, many of thehandcart-pullers and horses are not available.

Residents, meanwhile, are buying essential items atinflated prices, many of them being forced to pay Rs 250 extraper gas cylinder and Rs 10 to 15 more per kg for vegetablesand fruits, the petition said.

The court accepted the decision of the committee anddisposed of the petition. SPBNM BNM