Bombay HC Allows Mangroves Demolition with Conditions
The Bombay high court (HC) allowed the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) authorities to cut 357 mangroves for construction of Metro piers at Sewri and Bhakti Park station, as part of under-construction Metro Line-4 that connects Wadala in eastern suburbs to Kasarwadavli on Gho
Published -
Aug 10, 2020 6:06 AM
The Bombay high court (HC) allowed the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) authorities to cut 357 mangroves for construction of Metro piers at Sewri and Bhakti Park station, as part of under-construction Metro Line-4 that connects Wadala in eastern suburbs to Kasarwadavli on Ghodbunder road in adjoining Thane district. Noting that Metro Line-4 is a project of “immense public importance from the point of view of public transport”. The bench has directed MMRDA to comply with the conditions imposed by authorities while granting permission. Those include compensatory afforestation over a hectare of degraded mangrove forest at Gorai, where the authority will have to plant 4,444 mangroves saplings and also bear nursery cost, cost of raising, and maintenance of the plantation for 10 years. Besides, MMRDA authorities are also required to construct a temporary approach road for carrying out the construction work. Earlier, the court directives had prohibited development work in mangrove forests and a 50-metre buffer zone around mangroves, however, HC found the work is of considerable public importance.
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