Soon, green nod for trans harbour link project

The big-ticket Mumbai Trans Harbour Link project between Sewri and Nhava (Chirle) is likely to get green clearance soon from the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), as the Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) seems to be positive about the project. The need to revisit MoEF arose as the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had suspended the environmental clearance.

"We had a meeting with FAC on Thursday and the committee is likely to recommend the project to the MoEF for approval," said a Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) official.

The FAC is convinced about the diversion of mangrove forest from the affected alignment area to alternative locations. A total of around 47 hectares – 46 hectares in Nhava-Chirle and 1 hectare at Sewri – of mangrove will get affected due to the 22-km alignment of the sea link project.

As per the plan submitted by the MMRDA to the FAC, the compensatory forestation of mangroves will be done by the forest department in the wetland areas of Raigad and Sindhudurg districts.

For the Rs11,000 crore project, Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is processing disbursement of a loan amount to the tune of Rs8,800 crore. Loan agreement is likely to be signed by March 2016. The project is scheduled for completion in 2019, along with the first phase of planned Navi Mumbai International Airport.