Mumbai: The BMC has sought exemption for 100 hectares of mangrove area, in order to expedite its infrastructure projects, from the October 2005 blanket ban on the destruction of mangroves applied according to the Bombay high court directives.
The civic body has sought exemption for the construction of its major pumping stations, widening of important nullahs and roads, all of which require the cutting of mangroves.
The civic officials have submitted their report to the chief secretary, government of Maharashtra, for submission to the court. Other agencies, including the MMRDA and MSRDC have already submitted their concrete proposals for exemption of mangrove areas for their projects, and the replantation of mangroves that will be hacked for speedy progress of their vital projects.
“Like other agencies, we will also follow the court’s guidelines and replant the mangroves systematically,’’ said senior civic officials.
In January 2007, following the court’s directive based on a PIL filed by the Bombay Environmental Action Group (BEAG), the state had issued a notification declaring mangroves spread around 2,157 hectares (20 sq km) as protected forests. In the process, however, around 4,000 hectares were left out and the state had asked its various departments and civic bodies for suggestions on whether the remaining areas should be retained for development projects.
The BMC, in its submission, has said that it needs to cut about 26 hectares of mangroves for its Kanjur landfill site. “In lieu of closure of the Gorai landfill site, the Kanjur plot will be the main waste treatment facility, which is planned to take care of waste generated till 2030.’’
For the widening of nullahs in creeks and for the purpose of construction- pumping stations, the BMC has said that if the mangroves are not removed it may lead to flooding on the upstream side. Also mangrove-cutting is required for the installation of a pumping station. “The BMC can’t even build a road free of potholes, how will it replant these manholes systematically? And how come the only space it could find for its vital projects is all green and open land,’’ said Debi Goenka of BEAG.
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