Mumbai: The Environment Ministry’s Experts’ Appraisal Committee (EAC) has asked the MMRDA to strictly comply with coastal regulatory zone guideli-nes during commissioning of the much-delayed Rs 11,500-crore Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) project.
The committee, while grant-ing the coastal regulatory zone clearance, said the environm-ent management plan submit-ted by the MMRDA should be implemented in consultation with all the stakeholders.
The 22-km link connecting Sevri and Nhava aims at decon-gesting and reducing pollution by providing an alternate road link. It also aims at providing faster and easier flow of traffic and reducing congestion on the mainland. The EAC further noted that “the project shall be carried out strictly in accord-ance with the CRZ provisions and shall not affect the coastal ecology of the area including flora and fauna. Also, MMRDA shall obtain all permissions fr-om concerned authorities prior to commencement of the pro-ject, and shall observe all safety requirements onshore and offshore.” The Mumbai Metro-politan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is expect-ed to float global tenders to invite consultants for the pro-ject by the end of January. Last week, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had said the project has received all the clearances and that the government will formally complete all the talks with Japan International Coo-peration Agency related to the financing of the project.
