Mumbai: The Bombay high court on Monday permitted the state government to construct three jetties in suburban Mumbai and Ghodbandar in Thane district. The court, while granting permission, noted that the projects were in public interest as they proposed to decongest the city’s traffic in the western suburbs and also connect the eastern and western suburbs.
The Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) has been entrusted with the task of planned development of minor ports, port infrastructure and maritime facilities.
A division bench of Justices B.R. Gavai and N.J. Jamadar was hearing a petition filed by the board seeking permission to carry out work on three of its projects pertaining to proposed ferry jetty services between Borivali and Gorai in Mumbai, a passenger jetty at Ghodbunder in Thane and roll-on and roll-off jetty services at Manori in the metropolis.
The petition stated that the projects were being developed for a sustainable water transportation system for Mumbai city and its suburbs.
The board approached the high court seeking permission as the proposed jetties would be located on mangrove buffer zones and as per previous court orders, any authority proposing to destroy mangroves as part of a public project has to first seek high court permission.
The MMB’s counsel informed the court that it had already received coastal regulation zone (CRZ) clearance from the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) for the three projects. He further said that none of the projects would cause any destruction to mangroves, but since the proposed jetties were in the mangroves buffer zone, permission was sought from the court.
“The proposed projects are founded on the principles of public utility, sustainable development and eco-friendly transportation systems, aimed at benefiting the citizens and not premised on private or commercial gain,” the petition said.
“They are public utility projects and should be allowed to be implemented more. Since the statutory authorities concerned have granted requisite permissions in accordance with law and there is no contemplation of any destruction of mangroves,” it added.
