TOI : Scrap sea link between Worli, Nariman Pt: PIL : Aug 30, 2007

Scrap sea link between Worli, Nariman Pt: PIL
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Mumbai: A public interest litigation has been filed by a citybased NGO
against the construction of the Rs 4,143-crore Worli-Nariman Point sea link.
The proposed project, along with the under-construction Bandra-Worli sea
link, is part of the government's ambitious western freeway project aimed at
easing traffic congestion between Bandra and Nariman Point. The PIL filed by
Federation of Environment and Developmental Organisation besides claiming
that the project would cause ecological damage, also contended that it would
"affect the aesthetic beauty of areas such as Chowpatty and Marine Drive".

    With the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) and the state
government informing the HC that all necessary clearances had been obtained
for the project, a division bench of Justice J N Patel and Justice Amjad
Sayed on Wednesday adjourned the case by four weeks to allow the petitioners
to file a rejoinder.

    The first phase of the western freeway-the Bandra-Worli Sea Link-is
slated for completion in 2008. The Worli-Nariman Point sea link, with a
separate link to Cuffe Parade, is being planned as a 13.75-kmlong bridge
running at about 150 metres from the shore line.

    A government study indicates that on its completion around 1.25 lakh
vehicles will use the western freeway every day. The petitioners, however,
claim that the freeway would benefit only 9% of the commuters who use
private vehicles. The petitioners questioned the need for spending such
large sums of money to build the bridge when over 83% of the public use
public transport and another 8% use taxis and autorickshaws.

    The petitioners claimed that the sea link would result in increase in
the height of tidal waves that would destroy the western shorelines,
especially the Girgaum Chowpatty. The PIL raised environmental concerns,
alleging that no proper study has been carried out on the impact of the
project on the city's coastline, mangrove and marine ecology.

    In its affidavit, the MoEF informed the court that in 2003 it had
granted environmental clearance to the Worli-Nariman Point sea link.

    Not content with this, the petitioners have asked the court to quash the
clearance and order an independent study of the project by a panel of
experts including, "traffic consultants, town planners, environmental
scientists, oceanographers and NGOs''.
Publication:Times Of India Mumbai; Date:Aug 30, 2007; Section:Times City;
Page Number:2

URL
:http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JTS8yMDA3LzA4LzMwI0FyMDAyMDI=&Mode=HTML&Locale=english-skin-custom