Bombay High Court directs collector to remove 48 structures near airport

The Bombay High Court (HC) on Friday directed the district collector in Mumbai to remove about 48 structures that are allegedly flaunting the height norms and pose hurdles on the approach surfaces of Mumbai airport's runways.

The division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice MS Karnik, in its four-page order, has directed the collector to comply with the orders of the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and to file an affidavit by August 19 listing out steps taken to raze the structures. The court will hear the matter further on August 22.

"If there are other planning authorities, apart from the MCGM, whose assistance would be required for the purpose of demolition of the obstacles, we permit the Collector to seek such assistance and if any such assistance is sought, all other planning authorities shall provide requisite assistance to give full effect to this order," said the court in its four-page order.