Thane Coastal Road Phase 2 Hits Environmental Hurdle

The proposed Thane Coastal Road Phase-II from Balkum to Anandnagar in Mulund East has hit a regulatory hurdle due to concerns over mangroves and the Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary.

The Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) raised these concerns after reviewing the project's details, which include the elevated road alignment passing through the sanctuary's eco-sensitive zone.

The project involves 2.7215 hectares of forest land and affects around 3,754 mangrove trees. The proposal includes the permanent removal of 1.7472 hectares of mangroves and temporary removal of 2.7225 hectares.

At its 201st meeting on August 11, the MCZMA deferred the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) proposal, directing it to provide additional studies and explore an alternative alignment.

The National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM) mapping shows that the project traverses multiple Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) areas, including CRZ-IA mangroves, CRZ-IA mangrove buffer, CRZ-IB, and CRZ-IVB.

The total mapped project area is 2,72,201.58 sq mt, with 94,500.13 sq mt falling under CRZ-IA mangroves and 98,402.34 sq mt under the mangrove buffer zone.

The MMRDA submitted an environmental impact assessment (EIA) report, but MCZMA expert members observed that a substantial portion of the alignment passes through mangroves and ecologically sensitive areas.

The authority has sought a detailed report from the Mangrove Cell assessing the project's impact, as well as an assessment of the potential impact on Thane Creek's ecology and flamingo habitat.

Other information sought includes a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the competent authority, a cost-benefit analysis report, and a study assessing the project's potential impact on flooding.

The Thane Coastal Road Phase-II is a crucial infrastructure project aimed at improving connectivity in the region. However, the regulatory hurdles highlight the need for careful consideration of environmental concerns in infrastructure development.

The project's fate now depends on the outcome of the additional studies and the MCZMA's further review. The authority's decision will have significant implications for the project's timeline and the region's environmental landscape.

In conclusion, the Thane Coastal Road Phase-II has hit a regulatory hurdle due to environmental concerns, and the project's fate will depend on the outcome of additional studies and the MCZMA's review. This development underscores the importance of balancing infrastructure development with environmental protection in the region.