Vishwamitri Riverfront Project: ‘VMC bid for green nod too late’

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The VMC had issued tender seeking expression of interest for “consultants for environmental impact assessment and related clearance for Vishwamitri Riverfront Development Project” and the date of submission of bid was December 18 last year. The officials say the tender has not yet been cleared even though they have received bids by three consultants.

“We can’t go ahead with the project without seeking proper environmental and social impact clearance, which is why the consultant will guide us on preparing assessment report and seeking clearance from concerned ministries of the central government. Already we have received three bids and will finalise the right agency within ten days,” said Dhiren Talpada, executive engineer, road project, VMC, who is an official on the special riverfront development project.

The state government has already given green signal to the project, which is expected to see an investment of Rs 1,390 crore, in December last year. The VMC even removed slums at Kalyannagar with the project in mind. Certain works were carried out using JCBs to dig out the bed and sides of the river. These works were done even before the VMC sought proper consultation on environmental clearance.

The decision to appointment a consultant on environmental clearance aspect has come all too late, activists have pointed out, threatening legal action against the project.

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