Journalism of Courage
During a hearing on the Bopkhel issue on Friday, the Bombay High Court asked the defence authorities to finalise an alternative route for the villagers by August 14, the next date of hearing on the matter.
The court has asked the defence authorities to suggest the alternative route after taking due permissions as a solution for the Bopkhel villagers who have been stopped from using the road within the College of Military Engineering (CME) for security reasons following an HC order.
In an affidavit submitted on Friday, the district administration, along with CME, offered options for an alternative route, which was contested by Ammunition Factory, which said it used the space along the suggested road to store explosives and that it came in the buffer zone.
According to senior officials of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal corporation (PCMC), defence authorities have been asked to clear all issues and submit a final alternative route for the villagers after discussions. “They have been asked to take all the necessary permissions and check with the defence ministry before suggesting the alternate road. Once this is given, the local administration can check its feasibility,” PCMC officials said.
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The district administration and the PCMC have been rooting for the road within the CME campus as the most “feasible” with adequate security measures in place.
The road was closed following an HC order dismissing a petition from a villager, Shrirang Dodhade, for opening the CME gate permanently. The court had asked PCMC chief and district collector to submit an affidavit suggesting alternate routes.
Meanwhile, CME has said in a statement that it is a walled military campus in A-1 defence land housing various institutes, training equipment and stores which are sensitive in nature and their security is of utmost importance. The statement said that A-1 defence land is utilised by Army only and that considering the security concerns, movement of local population through CME is not permissible.
The statement also said that local military authorities had made an endeavour to address the concerns of local population by constructing a floating bridge on Mula river along with a road linking Bopkhel village with Khadki on temporary basis.
“The same is being extensively used and PCMC through their efforts is exploring an alternative as permanent solution,” it said.
