2,520 mangroves to be lost to pipeline
PANJE
Spread across 213 hectare (ha) core or foraging area and 157ha buffer area for migratory bird roosting zone, Panje is home to up to 50,000 birds during winter. The state wildlife board had decided to declare the area a bird sanctuary in 2015, but the notification was never published.
Apart from being an important bird area, protection of Panje has been a demand of ecologists since September last year, after Cidco blocked the tidal water to the site per the CRZ 1991 norms both the holding ponds had substantial area in the outer boundary of CRZ limits. However, as per the revised norms in 2011 and approved CZMP maps earlier this year, the presence of mangroves classifies these zones as CRZ I. Cidco said they will follow the final orders by the HC. “There were never any plans for construction at these two holding ponds, and our intent has always been to protect them. The directions of the HC will be implemented,” said Pramod Patil, nodal officer (environment), Cidco. The petitioner said the affidavit comes as a hope. “It is startling that Cidco has leased out parts of holding pond 1 to NMSEZ and has been pleading ignorance,” said Pawar. “Several plots appear to have been earmarked for real estate projects, hopefully this disastrous development will be checked,” said environmentalist BN Kumar. leaving most parts of this zone dry. After several complaints, the government body opened flood protection gates to restore the wetlands.
In June this year, Cidco placed security guards at Panje, among other areas in Uran, denying citizens access, and banned fishing. Subsequently, the state mangrove and wetland committee said the area was not a wetland, but in September, directions were passed
MUMBAI: The state’s coastal authority has permitted construction of a 39-km pipeline running across Thane creek from Raigad to Mumbai, which will lead to destruction of 2,520 mangrove trees and diversion of 26-hectare reserved forest area.
The Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance was issued during the last meeting of the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) while hearing the proposal by the Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (BPCL), which plans to build its second largest polypropylene unit (largest being built in Kochi) in India and a petrochemical complex at Rasayani, a town in Raigad district, and intends to to Cidco to protect Panje area in Navi Mumbai, even if it is not recognised officially as a wetland. Cidco claims the area is a no-development zone (NDZ) even as plots have been earmarked for real estate and commercial projects.
Last month, local residents and researchers from Bombay Natural History Society were stopped from entering the site and ringing birds by private security. supply petroleum products through a pipeline from its Mumbai refinery.
The unit will process 45,000 tonnes per annum polypropylene (PP), a thermoplastic polymer used in large quantities by the plastic processing industry, and will act as a storage and processing unit for PP. The pipeline (mostly underground) will carry propylene from BPCL’S Mumbai refinery, through Mahul and Thane creek, bypassing the Navi Mumbai International Airport area, Uiwe River, Kirki River and further along a national highway up to Rayasani.
“Two patches of mangroves (22.267ha) at Mahul and Uran will be disturbed for laying the proposed pipeline and an additional 3.78ha (territorial) reserved forest area based on the environment impact assessment. After detailed discussion and deliberation, MCZMA decided to recommend the proposal to the Union environment ministry subject to compliance of certain conditions,” the minutes of the meeting said. Some of the conditions imposed on BPCL for the project include prior permission from the Bombay high court (based on the September 2018 court’s order freezing mangrove destruction in Maharashtra), a no-objection certificate from the state mangrove cell, forest clearance from the Centre, pipeline to be laid at a depth of 10m to avoid further destruction of mangroves etc.
The details come days after a shocking report by researchers from Climate Central, a science organization based in New Jersey, USA, wherein large parts of
Mumbai may be inundated by 2050 with experts highlighting that conservation of mangroves was crucial as they are the first line of defense against sea level rise. “BPCL needs to ensure least damage to mangroves and no effect of the petrochemical products on the mangrove ecosystem,” said Stalin D, member of the Hc-appointed mangrove committee.
BPCL said that they chose the best of three alignments for the project, which would lead to minimal environmental damage. “India does not have much of PP production and under the Centre’s Make in India policy; we are coming up with this plan, which will help suffice the requirement for the country,” said a BPCL spokesperson and project authority.