Navi Mumbai: Maharashtra Government’s Mangrove Construction Revelation Sparks Environmental Concerns
Navi Mumbai, 28th March 2024: The recent revelation by the Environment and Climate Change department of the Maharashtra Government regarding the construction of a casting yard on mangroves in Navi Mumbai has sparked concerns among environmentalists. The casting yard, allocated by the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) for the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) project, has raised questions about land allotment practices and environmental compliance.
Flouting norms and a Bombay High Court order, CIDCO allocated the land adjacent to the casting yard to Tirupati Tirumala Devasthanam (TTD) for the construction of a temple, despite opposition from environmentalists.
In response to an RTI query filed by environment activist B N Kumar, the Environment and Climate Change department admitted to being unaware of whether the casting yard was built on 16 hectares of mangroves in Ulwe. This lack of disclosure by CIDCO to the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) raises serious concerns about transparency and environmental protection.
CIDCO allotted a 10-acre plot in April 2022 for the casting yard, which was temporarily established on a 16-hectare coastal area in Navi Mumbai. This area was previously rich in biodiversity, including mudflats and sparse mangroves. However, the casting yard was set up in 2019, disrupting the ecological balance.
The Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) report for the MTHL project clearly stated that the casting yard was temporary. CIDCO should have restored the wetlands and mudflats after the project’s completion, as per environmental norms.
An inquiry revealed that CIDCO and TTD approached MCZMA for coastal zone clearance for the proposed temple without disclosing the casting yard’s existence. This lack of transparency has led to further scrutiny of MCZMA’s Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance process.
NGT is currently reviewing NatConnect’s application against MCZMA’s CRZ clearance for the temple, demanding accountability for the oversight. Concerns persist over CIDCO’s environmental impact in Ulwe and MCZMA’s compliance with Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) regulations.
Environmentalists, including Nandakumar Pawar of Sagar Shakti, are vehemently opposing CIDCO’s conversion of the temporary casting yard into a permanent structure, emphasizing the need for environmental preservation and adherence to CZMP guidelines.
