Environmental Concerns Rise Over Kharghar-Turbhe Link Road Project
The Kharghar-Turbhe Link Road project, a crucial ₹2,100 crore infrastructure development aimed at easing traffic congestion, has come under intense scrutiny for bypassing an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). The project, passing through the ecologically sensitive Pandavkada Hills in Navi Mumbai, has drawn sharp criticism from environmental activists, who argue that it overlooks significant biodiversity and environmental preservation concerns.
According to information revealed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, the Maharashtra State Environment and Climate Change Department has not provided any records indicating that an EIA was conducted for the project. The response from the department, which refers to the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA), has only been a standard denial, further intensifying suspicions over the project’s environmental clearance. BN Kumar, director of NatConnect Foundation, which sought clarification on the issue, expressed concern that the project is being pushed forward without the essential environmental safeguards. He has raised alarms over the potential long-term ecological damage that could occur in Pandavkada Hills, a region that holds significant ecological value and is part of the larger Kharghar hill range.
Activist Jyoti Nadkarni, who convenes the Kharghar Hills and Wetlands Forum, pointed out that the forest department had once planned to develop the Pandavkada Falls area as an eco-tourism destination. This road project, according to Nadkarni, threatens to derail these efforts and could result in irreversible damage to the region’s biodiversity. The project, which involves a 1.8 km twin tunnel through Kharghar hill and a 3.4 km elevated viaduct, aims to connect Turbhe with Kharghar, offering an alternative route to reduce congestion. However, critics argue that while easing traffic is necessary, such development should not come at the expense of preserving local ecosystems.
The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) had previously conducted a survey in the region, revealing a rich variety of flora and fauna, including endangered species such as golden jackals and leopards. In light of this, environmentalists have called for a more balanced approach, urging CIDCO, the project’s executing authority, to integrate biodiversity conservation into the planning process. Kumar also highlighted previous incidents where CIDCO’s development projects had harmed the local environment, including the destruction of a hillock in the Kharghar Golf Park area, an action that met with strong opposition from local Adivasi communities.
With water resources also being a pressing concern for the region, Kumar and Nadkarni have urged for the implementation of rainwater harvesting systems to better utilise the area’s rainfall, a move that could help resolve the ongoing water scarcity in Kharghar. As the Kharghar-Turbhe Link Road project advances, the demand for a thorough EIA and a more sustainable approach to development becomes increasingly important. Ensuring a balance between progress and ecological conservation remains a critical challenge.