MMRDA fined Rs 25 lakh for Mithi

National Green Tribunal (NGT) chairman Justice Swatanter Kumar has recently slapped a notice on Mumbai Metropolitan Regional development Authority (MMRDA) and confirmed action against officials for starting the Mithi river bank wall project without carrying out an ecological survey.

A fine of Rs 25 lakh worth environmental compensation has been levied on (MMRDA) for causing environmental degradation, violating CRZ norms by carrying out blasting work in the Mithi river widening project and constructing a retaining wall. Mr Kumar has asked the State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) of Maharashtra to examine the matter and submit the final report to the tribune within three months.

The judgement was passed on the petition filed by NGO Jalbirdari and Vanashakti that challenged the CRZ clearance granted by the MMRDA for constructing of retaining walls, service road and re-locating Bharat Nagar police chowky along the bank of Mithi river.

The previous judgements were pronounced on January 22, 2015, after the matter was heard in the western zone bench of NGT, Pune. The matter was, however, referred to chairpersons bench in Delhi due to a clear difference in opinion, leading to separate judgements filed by Justice V.R. Kingaonkar (judicial member) and Dr Ajay A. Deshpande (expert member).

Passing an order on the matter on May 31, Mr Kumar pointed out the recommendations filed by the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) that stated that the blasting activities at the river should be discontinued due to its adverse impact on the biodiversity and ecosystem.

The western zone bench of NGT had stated that no EIA report was sought to ensure that the project was viable and unlikely to cause adverse impact on flora and fauna, natural tidal movements and internal flow of the river.

The chairman’s bench of NGT has asked SEIAA, to seek a nominated member of NEERI as an expert member to examine the entire matter and submit the final report to the tribunal in terms of the judgment, within three months.

He further added that MMRDA is liable to pay Rs 25 lakh as EC that will be subjected to final adjustment, including the money required for taking restorative and remedial measures, considering the report filed by SEIAA.

“The SEIAA shall also compute environmental, ecological and other damage caused by the project and the remedial steps required to be taken,” said Mr Kumar.

The judgment asked SEIAA to ensure that the Mithi river’s creek at the discharge point is protected and the flow of the river is not adversely affected. “The SEIAA shall also consider and direct if any part of the project requires to be demolished in the interest of environment and ecology and its extent,” said Mr Kumar while passing the judgment that upheld the conservation of largely endangered river.