₹254crore:amount civicbodyowes theenvironment foritscoastalroad TO MANGROVE FOUNDATION
After work began in Dec, BMC yet to pay 2% of project cost for environmental nod granted in 2017
MUMBAI: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), which is building the coastal road along the city’s west coast, has not deposited ₹254 crore for environmental conservation as per the requirements for the environment clearance (EC) that was granted to the project in May 2017.
The expert appraisal committee had stipulated that the BMC should deposit this money with the Mangrove Foundation of Maharashtra before starting on the construction. Work on the proposed eight-lane coastal road was inaugurated in December 2018.
According to the EC issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MOEFCC), before beginning work on the coastal road, 2% of total cost of the ₹12,721-crore project – or ₹254 crore – should have been deposited by the BMC with the Mangrove Foundation of Maharashtra, an autonomous society that assists the state government in marine conservation, to improve coastal marine biodiversity.
“The funds are to be transferred on or before commencement of the construction work and a report in this regard to be forwarded to regional office of MOEFCC,” read the condition in the EC and minutes of the expert appraisal committee in March 17, 2017. Copies of both documents are with HT. N Vasudevan, executive director of the foundation and additional principal chief conservator of forest, state mangrove cell, confirmed funds have not been received.
The chief engineer of the coastal road project, Mohan Machiwala, said “We submitted a six monthly report to MOEFCC in January and the project has started only after that. As far as the funds are concerned, we have not received any letter from the Mangrove Foundation, “Some of the impacts from such a project are unavoidable, but the least we should do is to minimise this through mitigation measures. Not just in the short term, but long term as well. Measures in place should not be limited to localised interventions. The long-term impact of conserving coastal marine biodiversity may not be directly related to coastal road but it can help ensure areas outside the project affected zone is better protected in a holistic manner.”
A SENIOR OFFICIAL, state forest department “Construction work will lead to higher sedimentation and increase in turbidity. As a result smaller and immobile organisms, especially corals, bivalves and crustacenas, will all be destroyed. However, fish and other marine animals will move away from the area. Post construction, there will be recolonisation of organisms. The construction phase will witness the damage.”
E VIVEKANANDAN, former principal scientist and current national consultant, central Marine
Fisheries Research Institute but since it is a condition binding on us, we will look into the issue and take appropriate action to ensure the issue is resolved.” The MOEFCC said that they have not received the conservation plan from the BMC. A senior MOEFCC official who was on the committee that granted the EC said, “We had also directed BMC to develop a marine biodiversity conservation plan within 24 months of the environment clearance at a budget of Rs 10 crore. However, there has been no communication to us about any developments on this front either.”
Muncipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta refused to comment on the issue.
Another BMC officer said, “No mangroves will be lost in the first phase of construction but
SOME OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS BY UNION ENVIRONMENT MINISTRY UNDER ENVIRONMENT CLEARANCE
Develop marine biodiversity conservation plan for the region from a reputed academic institute affiliated to University of Mumbai having worked in the field of mangrove, marine and coastal biodiversity, and submit plan within 24 months of clearance to the Ministry
Carry out studies through the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) during and after the construction of the coastal road and its actual impact
Noise barriers to be installed all along the coastal road on areas facing residential areas are erected and maintained No disposal of solid or liquid wastes on the coastal area During construction phase no adverse impact on tidal behaviour is attracted Reclaimed land shall not be used for commercial or residential purposes
Provide alternative arrangement for fish drying beds with prior consultation with the fishing community
(Source: the marine biodiversity conservation plan is being prepared with the help of the University of Mumbai and will be completed before the stipulated time frame issued by MOEFCC.”
Marine biologists said the project construction is likely to cause large scale sedimentation and high turbidity in the coastal water, which could destroy marine life in the area.
PHASE 2
Extension from Bandra-worli Sea Link to Kandivli
PHASE 1
Princess Street flyover will be connected to
Bandra-worli Sea Link
MINUTES OF THE 168TH MEETING OF EXPERT APPRAISAL COMMITTEE FOR PROJECTS RELATED TO COASTAL REGULATION ZONE HELD ON 17TH MARCH, 2017 AT INDIRA PARYAVARAN BHAWAN, MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE, NEW DELHI)
“Immediate damage to marine environment cannot be ruled out,” said Baban Ingole, head of the marine biology department at the National Institute of Oceanography. Concerns have also been raised by south Mumbai residents, who have raised questions about the noise levels at the work sites and the environmental impact of the project. The Princess Street Flyover BMC has said any trees that may be cut for the project will be replanted and Priyadarshini Park would not be encroached upon.
Work on the 9.98-km first phase of the project, at a cost of ₹ 12,721 crore, is underway with land reclamation in parts of south Mumbai and activity regarding survey at sea, said BMC officials.