Bombay HC Summons BMC Commissioner For Non-Compliance Of Orders

The Bombay High Court has directed Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Commissioner Ajoy Mehta to remain present in court in a matter regarding identification of a site for installation of a Doppler Radar System(DRS) in suburban Mumbai.

Division bench of Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice MS Sonak passed these directions while hearing a PIL filed by Atal Bihari Dubel. His petition was filed after a heavy rainfall last year in June and it sought directions to ensure corrective steps by the authorities. While there is a DRS at Colaba Weather Station, a state appointed committee had recommended another such installation in the suburbs.

After the court gave directions to the BMC in July this year to identify the site, no progress has been made. The Indian Meteorolgical Department(IMD) had identified three sites for this purpose, the final word lies with the civic body. BMC’s counsel SU Kamdar informed the bench that since the hydraulic department of the BMC had stated that the identified sites were not suitable there has been a delay. He persuaded the bench not to order the BMC commissioner’s presence but Chief Justice Chellur  was adamant, she said- “Probably the BMC commissioner is not aware of the seriousness of the matter. He must be present in court with all the particulars including that report by the hydraulic department in a week. If he has found a solution by then, he can come with it.”

A Doppler Radar System is used to locate precipitation, calculate its motion, and estimate its type. In other words it helps anticipate weather conditions and also assists in pre-empting natural calamities. Such a system is crucial for a city like Mumbai with such high frequency of rains.

This article has been made possible because of financial support from Independent and Public-Spirited Media Foundation.