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Order of the Supreme Court regarding plying of e-rickshaws and laying of paver blocks in Matheran, Maharashtra, 24/02/2023

  • 24/02/2023

Order of the Supreme Court of India in the matter of In Re: T N Godavarman Thirumulpad Vs Union of India & Others dated 24/02/2023.

The matter related to permission for e-rickshaws to ply in the city of Matheran and laying down of concrete paver blocks on the roads in Matheran.

The SC directed a Monitoring Committee to decide on whether to permit e-rickshaws and the laying down of paver blocks in the city of Matheran, an eco sensitive zone.

The SC said that laying down of paver blocks would destroy the natural beauty of the city.

With regard to e-rickshaws, the apex court was of the opinion that ever prior to laying down of paver blocks the man pulled rickshaws were plying in Matheran. Then, there should be no difficulty in the e-rickshaws plying on the same roads.

The monitoring committee has been asked to submit its report within a period of eight weeks on both the issues and till further orders, no further paver blocks should be laid on the roads in the city of Matheran.

The Ministry of Environment and Forests through a notification, February 4, 2023 notified Matheran and surrounding region in the state of Maharashtra as the 'Matheran Eco-sensitive Zone'. A monitoring committee was also constituted to ensure compliance with the provisions of the notification.