The Union ministry of environment and forest (MoEF) on Monday gave its final costal regulation zone (CRZ) clearance for the ambitious 22-km long Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link (MTHL).
The Union ministry of environment and forest (MoEF) on Monday gave its final costal regulation zone (CRZ) clearance for the ambitious 22-km long Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link (MTHL).
This comes after the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in October had challenged the MoEF’s prior CRZ clearance of 2013 and had asked it to look into the proposal afresh.
In a letter written by the MoEF to the Mumbai Metropolitan Development Authority (MMRDA) stated, “In compliance of the directions of NGT, the proposal, the expert appraisal committee (EAC) of the MoEF considered ‘MTHL implemented by MMRDA.
Based on the recommendations of EAC, the environment ministry hereby accords CRZ clearance to the project.”
“The green nod to the project, estimated to cost Rs 11,370 crore, has been given subject to the compliance of specific and general conditions,” letter stated.
The MMRDA proposal for the project involves construction of a bridge across the Mumbai harbour between Sewri on the island city side (in the Mumbai Port Trust area) and Chirle on the Navi Mumbai side.
The link is about 22 km long with a 16.5 km bridge across the sea and a 5.5 km long viaduct on the land. The Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has agreed to fund 80 per cent of the estimated project cost of Rs 11,000 crore and the remaining 20 per cent was proposed to be made available by the Centre.
The MMRDA has also been asked to strictly comply with all terms and conditions stipulated by the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) and implement the Environment Management Plan in consultation with all stakeholders.
It has been asked to implement the project with the provisions of the CRZ Notification 2011 and not affect the coastal ecology of the area. It has also been asked obtain all permissions from concerned authorities prior to commencement of the project.
“Now, after the formal approval of the MoEF, we will float tenders for the project by March 2016,” said a MMRDA official.
Meanwhile, MMRDA last week floated tenders to appoint consultants (PMC) to assist the MMRDA and JICA.
