Activists: Uran NMSEZ working without permit

Mumbai: In a fresh complaint to the Bombay high court-appointed mangrove monitoring committee, activists have claimed that the Navi Mumbai Special Economic Zone (NMSEZ) has been carrying out work in the mangroves and wetlands in the eco-sensitive Uran area without official permission.

The mangrove committee has taken cognisance of the matter and stated that it will create a report based on inspection of destruction at the site.

Activists have alleged that within the walled areas of the NMSEZ, there have been reclamation and landfill activities after the company obtained change of user permission from the state government to develop an industrial township.

Moreover, the Raigad district collector’s office has replied to a Right to Information (RTI) query saying that it has no records of any permission for landfill activities by NMSEZ. The company has also not paid any royalty to the revenue department for transporting the soil dug out from the hills, which is mandatory for any construction company. The NMSEZ has acquired 2,240 hectares of the site.

“We have also been writing to various authorities like MCZMA, the environment and forest departments. The chief minister has responded by referring the complaints to relevant authorities. But we are yet to see any action on the ground,” said Nandakumar Pawar, the Navi Mumbai activist who filed the RTI.

After the CM directed the state environment department to look into the activists’ complaints, mangrove committee member-secretary Neenu Somraj visited the area after the state polling  and noticed the violations.