HC allows felling of 2,612 mangroves to construct 5th & 6th line between Borivali & Virar
The fifth and sixth railway lines between Borivali and Virar are being constructed under Phase III-A of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project at a cost of Rs 2,184 crore.
As per an old judgement, the high court's permission is needed to remove mangroves in the Mumbai region. (Express photo) Maintaining that construction of fifth and sixth lines between Borivali and Virar stations of the Western Railway (WR) would alleviate traffic congestion, reduce emissions and conserve fuel, the Bombay High Court permitted felling of 2, 612 mangroves on the land required for the new lines.
The said lines are constructed under Phase III-A of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP) at a cost of Rs 2,184 crore.
The court allowed WR to remove the said mangrove trees subject to compliance of various conditions imposed by the Union Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoEFCC), while granting clearances.
The court asked the WR to file undertaking within four weeks stating that it will complete plantation and maintain 7, 823 mangroves in Sandor Village of Vasai Taluka in Palghar district before removal of existing 2,612 mangroves at project site
“The railway system is an eco-friendly mode of mass transportation and one of the most efficient in the world. The construction of these lines will reduce emissions, alleviate traffic congestion, and conserve precious fuel. Therefore, in our opinion, the project is overwhelmingly in the public interest and has significant ecological benefits,” a division bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar noted.
As per past HC judgment, its permission is required for felling of mangroves in the Mumbai region.
The bench on August 30 passed an order in plea by WR seeking permission to remove the mangroves and submitted that the said permission would enable construction of fifth and sixth lines to meet demand for additional services. The detailed order was made available Thursday.
The WR, through advocate Atharva Dandekar, submitted that the Additional Inspector General of Forests (Central), Nagpur of MoEFCC on November 17, 2023 granted in-principle clearance for felling of the mangroves with certain conditions.
It was submitted that the mangroves for whose removal permission is sought are located on the path of the critical bridge to be constructed over Vasai creek under the said project and the proposed project would benefit nearly 1.7 million additional commuters of suburban train services.
The court noted that “the project is absolutely necessary, with no viable alternative”, and the proposed project is adjacent to the existing railway line, situated on land owned by the railways and therefore the said alignment was determined to be most suitable from technical, economic and functionality aspects.
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