Coastal authority lifts 4-month ban on under-construction mall near Mumbai mangroves | Mumbai news - Hindustan Times
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Coastal authority lifts 4-month ban on under-construction mall near Mumbai mangroves

Hindustan Times | By, Mumbai
Dec 11, 2017 08:17 PM IST

MCZMA warns MMRDA against harming mangrove trees during construction at BKC

The Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) has allowed the Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) to resume construction of a mall at Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC). The order was issued last week.

The under-construction mall at BKC.(HT photo)
The under-construction mall at BKC.(HT photo)

The MCZMA lifted the ban and asked the MRRDA to ensure that mangrove trees are not destroyed during construction. The under-construction mall is located along the Mithi river at BKC.

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RTI activist Santosh Daundkar, who filed contempt petition against MMRDA and MCZMA officials in the Bombay high court a day after the stay was lifted, cited violation of an order from 2005 stating that destruction of mangrove forests across Maharashtra and construction within 50 metres of mangrove areas is banned.

HT had reported on August 12 that the MCZMA issued orders under the Environment Protection Act, 1986, to ensure that work on the under-construction shopping mall be stopped until the project proponents submit relevant environmental clearances. Daundkar, in May, had alleged that the construction was carried out on CRZ-3 — where no construction is permitted — by destroying mangroves.

Officials said after hearing both sides, the MCZMA reached a conclusion that the complaint was baseless.

“Initially, we felt there was a violation, so we had asked for the work to be stopped. However, it was unfair on our part to stop work without organising a hearing in the matter,” said Satish Gavai, chairperson, MCZMA and additional chief secretary, state environment department. “We found that major approvals were received as early as 1998 and over the past two decades, a large chunk of the work had been completed before we stayed the work.”

After it issued a stay in August, the MCZMA asked the proponents to submit relevant documents such as when the work began, whether permissions and no-objection certificates were granted, copies of environmental and coastal regulation zone (CRZ) clearances, the exact location of construction site and how far it is from the creek, mangroves or mangrove buffer zone.

“We found that all permissions were in place. We lifted the stay but directed the proponents to ensure not a single mangrove tree is destroyed during construction. They agreed,” said Gavai.

Daundkar said he has satellite images of the site where mangroves can be identified before the work began. “The MCZMA has lifted the stay without checking all environment clearances, including satellite maps of the site where mangroves were present way before the work began. We will move HC now,” he said.

About the BKC mall

The 20-acre area was allotted by the state government to the private company on lease in October 1991. The area used to be a drive-in-theatre since it was largely open and the profits were less since rent was low. However, during the course of time this drive-in-theatre was shut down and the private company requested the state to allow a mixed-use development, which included commercial offices, shopping mall, luxury hotel, multiplex and a drive-in-theatre at the roof of the mall, all part of the on-going construction.

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