A recent revelation through a Right to Information (RTI) application has cast a shadow over the legality of the 12-hectare casting yard for the Atal Setu bridge project in Ulwe, Navi Mumbai. The City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) has confirmed that no formal agreement exists with the Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) concerning the utilization of this crucial site, despite MMRDA’s occupation for nearly six years.
B.N. Kumar, Director of NatConnect Foundation, who initiated the RTI inquiry, expressed concern over the lack of transparency surrounding the casting yard’s operations. “The absence of a signed agreement raises significant legal and environmental questions, particularly regarding potential pollution from concrete mixing and steel cutting activities,” Kumar stated, highlighting the environmental risks posed by such industrial processes near coastal areas. The ongoing legal battle at the National Green Tribunal (NGT) initiated by NatConnect Foundation underscores broader environmental concerns, specifically focusing on alleged violations related to the allocation of a 10-acre plot within the casting yard for a Tirupati Balaji temple. Despite MMRDA’s confirmation of no formal lease agreement, questions persist regarding the environmental clearances and impact assessments associated with the casting yard’s operations.
Furthermore, NatConnect has initiated another RTI application seeking detailed information on environmental clearances, emphasizing the need for comprehensive scrutiny by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB). The organization’s scrutiny, supported by pre-casting yard Google Earth maps, suggests encroachments on fishing zones, mudflats, and mangrove habitats, intensifying concerns over ecological sustainability.
Critically, discrepancies in Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) permissions for the temple plot have been raised, with NatConnect arguing that the casting yard, by its geographical overlap, falls within restricted mangrove buffer zones. The Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) has acknowledged gaps in their evaluation process, admitting a lack of clarity on the casting yard’s CRZ categorization.
Amidst these revelations, CIDCO’s silence on the matter has drawn scrutiny, with stakeholders urging transparency and accountability in managing coastal development projects. As legal complexities unfold, stakeholders anticipate further regulatory responses to address environmental compliance and safeguard Navi Mumbai’s delicate coastal ecosystems. The unfolding saga of the Atal Setu casting yard underscores the imperative for rigorous regulatory oversight and proactive environmental stewardship in infrastructure development, reinforcing the need for balanced urban planning initiatives aligned with sustainable development goals.
