Cops object to SRA project, new buildings near BARC

MUMBAI: The Mumbai police have objected to an SRA project and a new construction coming up near the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) at
Trombay. Deputy commissioner of police Dilip Sawant said on Tuesday, "We did a security evaluation and found that these projects will affect the security BARC. We have urged the authorities concerned not to give any permission to them,'' he added.

For the past several years, the intelligence bureau and other agencies have been pointing out to the threat to BARC, which has been officially declared to be a nuclear weapon development complex, by the slums in the vicinity. Now these slums-dwellers are sought to be relocated to multi-storeyed buildings in the vicinity of BARC, which makes the sensitive installations vulnerable to terrorist attacks from these towers.

BARC and its vicinity has been under the security scanner following reports of a possibility of terror attacks. The entry of even morning walkers in the residential colony of BARC has been restricted. The roads leading to BARC are subjected to regular nakabandi by the police and regular review of the threat perception to the highly-sensitive installations are held at the highest levels.

The other project objected to is a housing complex coming up on land earlier occupied by APAR Industries. Sawant said this project could also pose a problem to BARC and hence the police have put in their objection. A spokesperson for APAR Industries said the company has sold the property to a builder and the firm had nothing to do with the proposed project.

Meanwhile, the Deonar police recently conducted a surprise check of buildings at Lallubhai compound which have been built for project affected persons (PAPs) to find out if any suspicious elements are staying there. "In one building, we found that 52 of the 130 tenements have either been illegally let out or sold to unauthorised persons. These tenements are allotted free by Mhada to PAPs from different suburbs. They are supposed to be occupied only by the allottees and their families. We fear that persons with terrorist links may take shelter there,'' Sawant said. The Deonar police have written to Mhada several weeks ago asking it to take action against those who have illegally rented out or sold their tenements, but there has been no response so far. PAPs are not supposed to lease or sell their tenements for at least 10 years, but many of them do that and erect fresh huts. Mhada officials were unavailable for comment.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com