Coastal road work may start after 3 yrs : Hindustan Times

LONG WAIT Civic body is yet to get four mandatory environment clearances, public and expert review too could take time

MUMBAI: While the Centre may have cleared the reclamation hurdle, the coastal project may take off only three years later, claim civic officials. Reason: Pending green nod and review of the project design.

The coastal road project is still to get the mandatory final notification from the Ministry of Environment and Forest. The project also needs three other environment clearances and a twin review. The eco-clearances include a nod from the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) and permissions from the state environment impact assessment authority and forest department. To cut mangroves at seven spots to reclaim the land for the coastal road, the BMC will also need a no-objection certificate from the high court.

The civic officials are currently studying the draft notification, based on which the proposals for various clearances will be drafted. The consultant, who has drafted the project report published on the BMC’s website, will help the civic body in drafting the proposals too, said civic officials.

The draft report will be reviewed twice, with a public review, followed by a third-party audit. The third-party review of the design will be carried out by expert consultants, after studying the background of the project. Apart from the design plan, the experts will also reconsider relocation of utilities, rehabilitation and quality management mentioned in the project report. It will also give its view on the tunnels planned for the project and the amount of reclamation that would be needed.

While the state government is trying to expedite the work by getting faster clearances, the public and third-party review will prove to be major hurdles.

“The environment clearances will take approximately two years, after which the tendering process will start. The construction work will start only a year later,” said a civic official.

Sanjay Mukherjee, additional municipal commissioner, who ho is incharge of the project, said, “We have received the draft notification, which is open for public ic suggestions and objections for 60 days. We are studying the notification.”