Navi Mumbai: Environmental Concerns Mount as MMRDA Operates Ulwe Casting Yard Without Formal Agreement
Navi Mumbai, 27th June 2024: In Navi Mumbai, recent revelations from a reply to an RTI application indicate that the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) has not formalized any agreement with the Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) concerning the 12 Ha casting yard in Ulwe, despite MMRDA occupying the plot for nearly six years for the construction of the Rs 17,840 Crore Atal Setu bridge. This disclosure came to light through the efforts of B N Kumar, Director of NatConnect Foundation, who filed the RTI application seeking details amidst an ongoing case at the National Green Tribunal (NGT) regarding environmental concerns related to the casting yard’s use, including its alleged impact on the Ulwe coast.
MMRDA, responding to the RTI query, stated that no formal agreement had been signed, leaving the legality of the casting yard in question. Kumar expressed concerns over potential environmental violations due to activities like concrete mixing and steel cutting, which could lead to water and air pollution.
NatConnect Foundation has now submitted a fresh RTI application to obtain details about environmental clearances and impact assessments related to the casting yard. The application was directed to the environment department, which referred the matter to the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) for further review.
According to NatConnect, satellite imagery from before the casting yard’s establishment suggests that the Atal Setu facility encroached upon fishing zones, mudflats, and mangroves. The NGO argued at the NGT that even the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance granted for the Tirupati Balaji temple plot, located within the same area, falls within a restricted mangrove buffer zone. The Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA), responsible for CRZ approvals, allegedly overlooked the casting yard’s presence during their assessment of the temple project’s environmental impact.
Furthermore, the MCZMA confirmed through an RTI response that it lacked information regarding whether the casting yard was constructed within a CRZ area, indicating gaps in comprehensive environmental evaluation.
Attempts to reach CIDCO officials for their response were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.
