The National Green Tribunal bench here has allowed the National Highways Authority of India's plea seeking approval for the diversion of a stretch of land in the core area of Karnala bird sanctuary from forest to non-forest purpose, to facilitate widening of the Panvel-Indapur stretch. The stretch is part of the Mumbai-Goa-Kochi National Highway No 17.
A 455-km stretch from Panvel to Zara in Sindhudurg has been taken up for widening following many fatal accidents.Widening of 62-km Panvel-Indapur stretch, estimated to cost Rs.1,000 crore, is on, but work on the 20 km section that includes the sanctuary has not yet begun.
According to NHAI's plea, the environment clearance (EC) granted to the project on June 3, 2009 did not include the 1.5 km Karnala stretch and all work has been restricted to activities in the 10 km eco-sensitive area surrounding the bird sanctuary .Among other things, the NHAI had sought the tribunal's approval and directions to the state authorities including the forest department to approve work in the core area. It further sought permission for cutting of trees in the proposed alignment.
In a judgment on September 3, the NGT bench of Justice V R Kingaonkar and Ajay A Deshpande directed the forest department to ensure compliances and submit six-monthly report over the next three years to the tribunal. The NHAI has been directed to comply with the environment and forest clearances by engaging themselves in compensatory afforestation.
A 455-km stretch from Panvel to Zara in Sindhudurg has been taken up for widening following many fatal accidents.Widening of 62-km Panvel-Indapur stretch, estimated to cost Rs.1,000 crore, is on, but work on the 20 km section that includes the sanctuary has not yet begun.
According to NHAI's plea, the environment clearance (EC) granted to the project on June 3, 2009 did not include the 1.5 km Karnala stretch and all work has been restricted to activities in the 10 km eco-sensitive area surrounding the bird sanctuary .Among other things, the NHAI had sought the tribunal's approval and directions to the state authorities including the forest department to approve work in the core area. It further sought permission for cutting of trees in the proposed alignment.
In a judgment on September 3, the NGT bench of Justice V R Kingaonkar and Ajay A Deshpande directed the forest department to ensure compliances and submit six-monthly report over the next three years to the tribunal. The NHAI has been directed to comply with the environment and forest clearances by engaging themselves in compensatory afforestation.
No comments:
Post a Comment