NGT Raises Environmental Concerns Over Chena Riverfront Development in Maharashtra
NGT flags green concerns in Chena Riverfront project
Hindustan Times
Image: Hindustan Times
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) in Pune has issued a notice regarding the Chena River beautification project in Kashimira, Maharashtra, following a petition challenging its environmental compliance. The project, which aims to develop the riverfront, allegedly violates several environmental laws and is located within the buffer zone of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park.
- 01NGT has requested responses from the Maharashtra government and Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation within six weeks.
- 02The Chena Riverfront project is designed to include promenades and commercial structures but is under scrutiny for environmental violations.
- 03Environmental non-profit Vanshakti filed the petition, seeking a halt to excavation and tree felling.
- 04The project was approved by the Eco-Sensitive Zone Monitoring Committee despite concerns over its location.
- 05State transport minister Pratap Sarnaik asserts that all necessary approvals are in place.
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The National Green Tribunal (NGT), based in Pune, Maharashtra, has taken action regarding the Chena River beautification project in Kashimira, which aims to develop the riverfront with promenades and commercial structures. A petition filed by the environmental non-profit Vanshakti raises concerns that the project violates several environmental laws, particularly as it is located in the buffer zone of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP). The NGT has directed the Maharashtra government and the Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) to respond within six weeks. The project, which was approved by the Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) Monitoring Committee in March 2024, is modeled after the Sabarmati Riverfront project in Ahmedabad. Activists have previously reported environmental damage along the riverbanks, including debris dumping and damage to grasslands and mangroves. The petition claims that excavation and construction activities are ongoing in areas where such developments are prohibited under the ESZ regulations. State transport minister Pratap Sarnaik maintains that all necessary approvals are in place and that the project will proceed as planned, with completion expected by early 2028.
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The NGT's scrutiny of the Chena Riverfront project could halt construction activities, impacting local development and environmental preservation efforts.
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