Mumbai: Apart from Thackernays who are aware of the environment leading the State Government and BMC, the Civic Agency has not fully paid the cost for environmental mitigation measures for coastal road projects.
Among the many conditions for the provision of coastal regulations (CRZ) for controversial projects is a payment of 2% of the total project costs for mitigation measures to mangrove conservation cells.
The cell has caused demand for Rs 254.52 Crore.
So far, the corporation only pays Rs 175 Crore, according to documents obtained under the right to the Information Law by Akhil Maharashtra Machhimar Kruti Samiti.
Money must be paid before the work starts on the ground.
Working on the project began around 2017-18, however, until October 2020, Corporate Rich Corporate only pays Rs 25 Crore.
After reminders from mangrove conservation cells on October 2020, BMC pays another RS 150 Crore.
However, Civic’s body should pay Rs 79.52 other crores, according to cells.
“BMC has just paid 2% of the cost estimate, and not the actual cost,” said Virendra Tiwari, the head of the conservatory in the cell.
But Ashwini Bhide, an additional city commissioner, is responsible for the coastal road project, insisting that BMC has cleared its contributions.
He said, “Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) NOC was issued only after all the maturity was paid.
The required amount was 2% of the construction costs, namely Rs 8,249 Crore, plus a 4% contingency, which came to Rs 175 Crore, and paid Full.
“Bhide added that the number of Rs 254.52 Crore will only appear if calculated based on the total project costs, which includes water, sewerage costs and supervision costs, which are nervosional and not part of the actual construction costs.
“So, no more paid from BMC to mangrove cells,” he said.
Samiti, who supported the Worli fishermen community fight against the coastal project, wanted BMC to expand the distance between the bridge pillars of 60 meters at this time until at least 200 meters so they could navigate their ship into the sea and back without crashing into rocks.
Fishermen have held sit-ins in SEATO highlighting their complaints.
“Mangrove conservation cells should use these funds to study the impact of the project on Aqua fisheries and culture.
However, so far, none of the Paisa spent on this research,” said Devendra Tandel, President Samiti.
‘BMC still owes almost 80Cr for the Crz Road coastal permission’
