On Wednesday, the MoEF put up a draft notification on their website demarcating the eco-sensitive zone. It was issued by the ministry on June 17.
Union ministry of environment and forest's draft notification on Karnala Bird Sanctuary has just given a shot in the arm to the Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link (MTHL) project connecting Navi Mumbai with the island city of Mumbai.
On Wednesday, the MoEF put up a draft notification on their website demarcating the eco-sensitive zone. It was issued by the ministry on June 17.
"Earlier this week, we had a meeting in New Delhi to discuss the MTHL project. A point discussed was the reduction of the eco-sensitive zone of Karnala Bird Sanctuary. As per the draft notification, this sea bridge now falls under the eco-sensitive zone," said UPS Madan, metropolitan commissioner, Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA).
However, as per existing rules the eco-sensitive zone has spread to a 10 km radius around the sanctuary. As per the draft notification, it now stands at 0-8 km. "MTHL's alignment is 7.5 km from the sanctuary," said Madan. This needed a clearance from the National Board for Wildlife, which may not be needed now.
The other point relating to the forest was getting the nod of the Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) for a Rs11,000 crore infrastructure project as it overlaps mangrove forests on either side of the landing, in Navi Mumbai at Chirle and Sewri in Mumbai. A total of 47 hectares of mangrove forests is getting affected by this 22-km long bridge.
"Compliance has been made for the Navi Mumbai end. Now, a certificate needs to be submitted, which declares that if the livelihood of any individual or tribal isn't getting affected in the utilisation of forest area, the project can be cleared for implementation," informed Madan.
This certificate is likely to be complied with in a month and submitted to FAC for mandatory clearance.
Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is likely to finance 80 percent of the project and Environment Impact Assessment as well as Social Impact Assessment studies are underway by the financing agency. It is likely to be ready by November and loan agreement likely to be signed between JICA and government authorities sometime in February-March next year.
Karnala Bird Sanctuary
Spread Over: 30.57 sq. km.
Total Villages: 18 in Uran & Panvel Talukas
Birds: 147 resident species & 37 migrant bird species
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