NAVI MUMBAI: Taking cognizance of environmentalists’ concern over the destruction of NRI and TS Chanakya wetlands for a golf course at Nerul in Maharashtra, the Center has asked the Stare environment department to take action “in priority” to resolve the issue. greens.
Meanwhile, a fresh complaint has been sent to the forest department regarding the deliberate destruction of mangroves near Moraj Circle, Palm Beach Road.
Environmentalists also reiterated that by saving these flamingo sites, the birds would not divert their flights to Navi Mumbai airport, thereby avoiding accidents.
Environmentalists have drawn the attention of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to the fact that the destruction of wetlands would harm flights at the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA).
M Ramesh, a MoEFCC official, has written to the state environment department regarding the issue raised by the Greens, NatConnect Foundation director BN Kumar said.
The MoEFCC has given clearance to the NMIA project based on certain conditions, including a birdlife survey to be carried out in consultation with the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), pointed out Sunil Agrawal of the Save Navi Mumbai Wetlands forum.
Repeated BNHS studies have warned of the destruction of wetlands, which are the destination for hundreds of thousands of migratory and local birds.
Birds that miss their traditional destinations could create a fight in the skies and land high above the proposed airport, posing dangers to NMIA flights.
Kumar has sought a commission of inquiry into Cidco’s “false certification” that the water bodies are not wetlands, based on which the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) has granted environmental clearance for the golf course project. NatConnect obtained the copy of the environmental clearance through the RTI route.
M Ramesh has now asked the state ministry to act on environmentalists’ complaints. He also asked the National Wetlands Authority as well as taking “necessary measures” and informing the Center.
The forest department itself admitted in its affidavit before the Bombay High Court, while hearing a petition by Agrawal and others, that the two wetlands were included in the national valuation inventory of wetlands prepared by the Ahmedabad-based Space Application Centre, Kumar pointed out.
The High Court had ordered the golf course project to be abandoned, but Cidco and the private developer moved the project. Supreme Court with separate petitions. Despite waiting for the SC’s decision, the project recently received approval from the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA), Agrawal lamented.
The golf course and country club with real estate development comprising 5 pockets named A, B, C, D and E in Sector 60 Nerul Navi Mumbai was tendered on an integrated basis and all documents have made it clear that piecemeal development is not permitted, Agrawal. said.
The State Mangrove Foundation has expressed its desire to conserve these wetlands along with those of Bhendkhal, Belpada and Panje in Uran and Bhandup in northeast Mumbai. This followed BNHS’s plan to safeguard these properties as satellite sanctuaries under the Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary management plan. The birds fly to these wetlands during high tides in the creek and putting them at risk would pose a threat to NMIA flights, BNHS said.
Meanwhile, a fresh complaint has been sent to the forest department regarding the deliberate destruction of mangroves near Moraj Circle, Palm Beach Road.
Environmentalists also reiterated that by saving these flamingo sites, the birds would not divert their flights to Navi Mumbai airport, thereby avoiding accidents.
Environmentalists have drawn the attention of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to the fact that the destruction of wetlands would harm flights at the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA).
M Ramesh, a MoEFCC official, has written to the state environment department regarding the issue raised by the Greens, NatConnect Foundation director BN Kumar said.
The MoEFCC has given clearance to the NMIA project based on certain conditions, including a birdlife survey to be carried out in consultation with the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), pointed out Sunil Agrawal of the Save Navi Mumbai Wetlands forum.
Repeated BNHS studies have warned of the destruction of wetlands, which are the destination for hundreds of thousands of migratory and local birds.
Birds that miss their traditional destinations could create a fight in the skies and land high above the proposed airport, posing dangers to NMIA flights.
Kumar has sought a commission of inquiry into Cidco’s “false certification” that the water bodies are not wetlands, based on which the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) has granted environmental clearance for the golf course project. NatConnect obtained the copy of the environmental clearance through the RTI route.
M Ramesh has now asked the state ministry to act on environmentalists’ complaints. He also asked the National Wetlands Authority as well as taking “necessary measures” and informing the Center.
The forest department itself admitted in its affidavit before the Bombay High Court, while hearing a petition by Agrawal and others, that the two wetlands were included in the national valuation inventory of wetlands prepared by the Ahmedabad-based Space Application Centre, Kumar pointed out.
The High Court had ordered the golf course project to be abandoned, but Cidco and the private developer moved the project. Supreme Court with separate petitions. Despite waiting for the SC’s decision, the project recently received approval from the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA), Agrawal lamented.
The golf course and country club with real estate development comprising 5 pockets named A, B, C, D and E in Sector 60 Nerul Navi Mumbai was tendered on an integrated basis and all documents have made it clear that piecemeal development is not permitted, Agrawal. said.
The State Mangrove Foundation has expressed its desire to conserve these wetlands along with those of Bhendkhal, Belpada and Panje in Uran and Bhandup in northeast Mumbai. This followed BNHS’s plan to safeguard these properties as satellite sanctuaries under the Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary management plan. The birds fly to these wetlands during high tides in the creek and putting them at risk would pose a threat to NMIA flights, BNHS said.
