25 Maharashtra projects stuck with Jairam Ramesh ministry

Navi Mumbai airport is not the only city project to have got stuck at the environment ministry headed by Jairam Ramesh.

Nearly 25 other proposals from Maharashtra submitted during Ramesh’s tenure have hit a roadblock over coastal regulations. Nineteen of these are from Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.

In contrast, not a single project submitted before Ramesh took charge is pending under coastal regulations, according to numbers on the ministry’s website.

Among the ‘on-hold’ projects are a helipad for Nariman Point, the Pedder Road flyover, reconstruction of a children’s hospital in Parel, the Kharghar-Taloja link, a  Mhada camp at Cuffe Parade and a film studio in Chembur.

Besides these, a raft of residential projects, mainly reconstruction of old buildings, also await clearance.

Among the six projects outside Mumbai are the Dabhol power project and a launch pad for offshore oil-drilling equipment at Raigad. A picnic spot in Nagaon village is also hanging fire.

While the 25 projects are being considered for exemption from the coastal buffer zone, 42 projects from the state — mostly industrial — are waiting for their initial environmental clearance. In all, close to 470 projects are awaiting scrutiny with the ministry.