Centre not keen on developing salt pans of Mumbai

Union Minister for Environment and Forest Jairam Ramesh has said that a proper study should be conducted on the ecology, environment and socio-economic aspects of the entire salt plan area before taking appropriate steps.

The Centre is not keen on developing salt plans in Mumbai as political leaders are concerned about its ecological and environmental impact, Union Minister for Environment and Forest Jairam Ramesh has said.

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"My understanding is that currently there is no evidence among top political leaders that they are in favour of opening up the salt plans for development although there was some interest in the past," Ramesh said on wednesday at the public hearing on Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification.

"I feel that at the high levels of government and Congress party, there is a great concern for ecology and environment and therefore we would not take hasty decisions as the salt plans are vulnerable land," he said.

The Minister said a proper study should be conducted on the ecology, environment and socio-economic aspects of the
entire salt plan area before taking appropriate steps.

Ramesh said he was aware that a section of political leaders (during NDA regime) wanted Mumbai's salt plans - spread
over 5,000 acres - to be opened up for development.