Worli-Haji Ali stretch to get environmental clearance in a week, Navi Mumbai airport will have to wait
In what could be termed as a major boost for the city’s infrastructure, the Union environment and forests ministry has assured the state that all necessary environmental clearances for the Worli-Haji Ali sea link will be given in the coming week. Chief minister Ashok Chavan met Union minister for environment and forests Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday in Delhi to discuss the sea link and other projects. Though sea link got a nod from Ramesh, the minister was non-committal about the Peddar Road flyover.
According to senior Maharashtra Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) officials, who were present at the meeting, the minister has cleared the route for the second phase of the link. However, the Peddar Road flyover still seems to be stuck. “According to the Centre, there are a few representations being made before the prime minister’s office and hence clearances are a little sensitive issue in case of the Peddar Road flyover. But, MSRDC is very clear about not violating any CRZ-1 regulations and following the road for the alignment,” said a source from the state government.
Chavan also steeped up his efforts to get Ramesh’s clearances for the new international airport proposed in Navi Mumbai. Chavan, who spoke to the media after his meeting with Ramesh, was confident about the Union ministry having a positive approach towards not only the new airport, but also a host of other projects like having four helipads in Mumbai, creating a separate framework for silence zones, etc. “We are encouraged by the positive approach from the ministry and look forward to further discussions on each of these projects,” said Chavan.
Ramesh also shared Chavan’s enthusiasm about development of infrastructure projects in the city. “We are not opposed to development of infrastructure. We want all development work to be within the framework of laws for the protection of environment and forests,” said Ramesh.
However, the Navi Mumbai airport project does have to clear a few hurdles before it can get the ministry’s nod. Spelling out the problem areas that need to addressed in case of the airport, Ramesh said there was an issue of diverting two rivers. “There are serious matters concerning the protection of environment, and these have to be looked into,” added Ramesh.
The Union minister also expressed concerns that building the airport at the present selected site would require the levelling of an 80-metre-high hill which raises significant coastal zone management issues. The Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) and the City Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) will submit their environment impact assesment report on Wednesday.
Ramesh, who has been under fire from several cabinet colleagues for delaying projects, refuted the criticism he has been facing from the union civil aviation minister Praful Patel for the Navi Mumbai airport. He said that the project would be taken up for discussion on July 21-22 by the expert appraisal committee (EAC) under his ministry and then only its fate will be decided.
“Right now it is too early to say what decision will be taken,” said Ramesh. “I am sure IIT-Bombay which has been asked to prepare the environment impact assessment report would have looked into all the ecology-related issues.”
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