Proposal to fell 12k trees in creek for fuel pipeline
MUMBAI: The Union environment ministry’s Regional Empowered Committee (REC) in Nagpur is considering a proposal from the Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) that seeks to axe down 11,904 trees (including at least 2,500 mangroves) in and around the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) of Thane creek to make way for a petroleum pipeline. The proposal awaits forest, environment and Coastal Zone Regulation (CRZ) clearances from the Centre.
The BPCL is hoping to connect its refinery in Mahul in Mumbai to an upcoming petrochemical complex in Rasayani in Raigad district, about 53 km away by road. According to the minutes of an REC meeting held on December 23 in Nagpur, the proposal sought to clear 56.7 acres of forest land and divert it to building a pipeline that will be 39.58km long.
Part of the mostly-underground pipeline is proposed to pass through ESZ area of Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary.
“Approximately 4.171km pipeline section shall pass through mangrove and mudflat area located on both ends,” while about 17km of the pipeline is proposed to pass through areas of Thane Creek protected by coastal regulatory zone (CRZ) rules, a copy of BPCL’S ‘Mangrove Management & Conservation Plan’, prepared as part of the forest clearance process, stated.
The state government received BPCL’S proposal for forest clearance in December 2020, and sent it for further consideration to the Centre’s integrated regional office in Nagpur in March 2021.
Prior to that, in November 2019, the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) was informed that 2,520 mangrove trees will be impacted by the project, in addition to other reserved forest areas. The MCZMA recommended the project for CRZ clearance from the Centre. The project is also awaiting forest and environmental clearances.
In its December 23 meeting, the REC noted the presence of “11,904 project affected trees, comprised of 499 trees of above 60 cm girth and 11,178 trees below 60 cm girth”, and said that the state government needs to “revisit the number of trees proposed for felling.”
The REC remarked that “alternative alignments have not been examined properly” and requested the state government to “explore the possibility of shifting proposed alignment”