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Court allows Reliance to build pipeline in ‘protected coastal zone'
Court allows Reliance to build pipeline in ‘protected coastal zone'

The Hindu

time4 hours ago

  • Business
  • The Hindu

Court allows Reliance to build pipeline in ‘protected coastal zone'

The Bombay High Court has allowed Reliance Industries Limited to proceed with laying its proposed ethylene dichloride and effluent pipelines through Coastal Regulation Zone-IA (CRZ-IA) in Maharashtra, subject to strict compliance with environmental conditions and court-mandated safeguards. Also Read | SBI classifies Reliance Communications loan as 'fraud', reports Anil Ambani to RBI A Division Bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep V. Marne passed the judgement on July 1, 2025, while disposing of three writ petitions filed by Reliance seeking permission to execute its proposed ethylene dichloride pipeline project. A detailed order of the judgement was made available on July 2. In its petition, Reliance said that it is a public limited company incorporated under the provisions of the Companies Act, 1956, and is engaged in the business of exploration of petroleum products. 'The petitioner is in the process of setting up poly vinyl chloride manufacturing unit at their existing petrochemical plant at village Nagothane, taluka – Roha, district – Raigad in the State of Maharashtra.' On January 18, 2019, the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEF) issued a gazette notification for controlling and regulating the activities within the Coastal Regulation Zone by superseding the previous CRZ notification, which was issued on January 6, 2011. In August 2024, the petitioner conducted an environmental impact assessment through an environmental consultant accredited to the National Accreditation Board of Education & Training (NABET) and submitted a final report in August 2024. Reliance submitted an application seeking permission from the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA). On January 3, 2025, MCZMA sent its recommendations to the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change (MoEF & CC), New Delhi, for clearance. The MoEF & CC, on February 12, 2025, granted CRZ clearance to the project. On April 11, 2025, a consent was granted by the Mangrove Cell, following which, on March 18, 2025, the petitioner submitted an application for forest clearance to the Deputy Conservator of Forests, Alibag. The Divisional Forest Officer then forwarded the proposal to the MoEF & CC, following which, on May 20, 2025, the MoEF & CC granted in-principal approval under Section 2 (1) of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. After that, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board accorded permission on May 20, 2025, to the project. Public utility project The judges observed, 'The project in question is a public utility project. All the authorities, i.e., MoEF and MCZMA, have granted permissions to the project of the petitioner. It is also pertinent to note that the project of the petitioner does not involve cutting down any mangroves. It is seen that the MCZMA has recommended the project for grant of CRZ clearance by the MoEF, which in turn granted the CRZ clearance.' The court rejected objections raised by the Bombay Environmental Action Group (BEAG), which argued that such an activity was prohibited under the 2019 CRZ notification and lacked necessary forest and tree felling permissions. The bench held that Clause 5 of the 2019 notification permits laying pipelines for public utilities in CRZ-IA using trenchless horizontal directional drilling methods, as planned by Reliance. On the issue of felling of trees and forest clearance, the court found that the necessary approvals had been obtained, and the trees in question were not mangroves. Disposing of the petitions, the court directed Reliance to file an undertaking within two weeks ensuring full compliance with the terms and conditions attached to the statutory clearances. The judgment also reaffirmed the court's earlier ruling in 2006, which had mandated that any development in CRZ areas must be vetted by the court to safeguard ecologically sensitive zones.

Crucial stage 1 approval granted for north phase of coastal road
Crucial stage 1 approval granted for north phase of coastal road

Indian Express

timea day ago

  • Business
  • Indian Express

Crucial stage 1 approval granted for north phase of coastal road

IN A boost to the second phase of Mumbai Coastal Road Project, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has granted the Stage-1 (in-principle) approval for the mangrove forest diversion proposal for the development of the project. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is now set to approach the High Court, whose approval will pave the way for the construction of the next phase of the project which spans from Versova to Bhayandar. A crucial clearance for the civic body, the stage 1 approval was granted on June 19. Set to connect Versova in the western suburbs with the satellite city of Bhayandar, the north phase of the Coastal Road Project encompasses interchanges, elevated roads and twin tunnels. The mega project passes through land and creeks with most of the area falling under the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ). Nearly 8.24 hectares of mangrove forest area will be permanently affected to develop the project with at least 9,000 mangrove trees set to be cut and over 36,000 mangrove trees to be affected. So far, the civic body has procured environmental clearances and No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from the central as well as the state government for the project. In November 2024, the CRZ permissions were acquired from the union ministry of environment, forest and climate change. Having now procured the in-principle Stage 1 approvals for the mangrove forest land diversion from the MOEFCC, the BMC is set to approach the High Court to acquire their permissions. For perspective, the Stage 1 (in-principle) approvals from the central government is the first step towards diverting forest land for non-forest purposes, followed by Stage 2 clearances. According to civic officials, the actual work on the project will commence after the working permissions from the High Court is acquired. Speaking to The Indian Express, a senior official said, 'We have already acquired permissions such as from the CRZ. On June 19, we also received the stage 1 in-principle clearance from MOEFCC which marks a crucial approval for the project. After this, we will now approach the High Court, who will grant the permission. Following this, once the working permission is acquired, we will commence the project works. Eventually, the stage 2 clearance will be granted.' Earlier on June 27, the chief minister's office (CMO) directed the BMC to complete land acquisition for the Mumbai Coastal Road Project (Phase 2) within the next 15 days. For the said project, the BMC will be reclaiming 165 hectares of land between Versova and Bhayander. On Tuesday, Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) Abhijit Bangar also took a review meeting of the developments with senior civic officials from the bridge department. The project is proposed to reduce the current travel time between Versova and Bhayandar of 90 – 120 minutes to a mere 20 minutes. Amid large parcels of mangrove forests pegged to be impacted for the project, the Mumbai Mangrove Cell (MMC) has charted a comprehensive plan to compensate for the mangrove trees in a project, which will be implemented by the Mangrove Cell. As per the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority norms, over 1.37 lakh mangrove trees are proposed to be planted while the BMC is also set to implement a comprehensive mangrove restoration plan. Meanwhile, the civic body has also charted plans to establish a nursery to develop new mangrove trees while MMF will carry out afforestation of mangrove trees over 31 hectares of land in Bhayandar Gaon. Besides this, the BMC will also transfer non-forest areas of equal proportion for forest development. Pegged at an estimated cost of Rs. 20,000 crore, the proposed second phase of the coastal road has been divided into six different packages. Package A will cover 4.5 KMs between Versova and Bangur Nagar (Goregaon), package B will cover 1.66 KM between Bangur Nagar and Mindspace (Malad). The packages C and D will include twin tunnels – 3.9 KM long – connecting mindspace at Malad with Charkop in Kandivali. Package E will be 3.78 KMs, connecting Charkop with Gorai and the final package F will be 3.69 KMs will connect Gorai with Dahisar. From Dahisar, the civic authorities are constructing another 5.6 KM elevated corridor that will extend till Bhayander at Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).

Coast sand and stone crisis: Locals blame mafia, policy paralysis
Coast sand and stone crisis: Locals blame mafia, policy paralysis

Hans India

time2 days ago

  • Politics
  • Hans India

Coast sand and stone crisis: Locals blame mafia, policy paralysis

Mangaluru: In coastal Karnataka, natural resources like sand, laterite, and gravel—once abundantly available for local construction—have turned into contested commodities. What locals once viewed as their rightful share of the region's natural wealth is now at the centre of a spiralling resource crisis, allegedly driven by political interests and unchecked commercial exploitation. Much like how Ballari's mineral-rich lands became synonymous with iron ore and Kolar with gold, the coastal belt's bedrock—its sandbanks and laterite deposits—has emerged as a resource hotspot. However, as large-scale extraction began catering to demands from Bengaluru and neighbouring Kerala, allegations of an entrenched 'sand mafia' have begun to surface. Residents say that the regulatory clampdown on local sand extraction—especially in areas not falling under the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ)—has ironically created a scarcity in the region, driving up construction costs and putting pressure on daily-wage labourers dependent on the industry. 'Earlier, three units of sand would cost around ₹3,000, including royalty charges. Today, it has touched ₹20,000,' said Athaulla Jokatte, a top functionary of the Social Democratic Party of India in Mangaluru. According to him, the royalty per unit, once ₹350, has surged to ₹1,800, with no corresponding access to local resources. While tenders have been floated for sand extraction in non-CRZ areas such as Adyar, Gurupura, Shambhoor, Moodbidri, Puttur, Uppinangady, Belthangady, Siddakatte, and Sullia, administrative approvals have reportedly been withheld. This has led to growing frustration among local builders and workers alike, who now face difficulty sourcing essential materials within the district. 'There is an irony here,' said a civic activist in Moodbidri. 'The very sand from our riverbeds is being trucked out to other districts and states, while locals are denied access. The system is punishing us with high prices and stalled work, just because we're not part of the political supply chain.' Jokatte said. Environmental safeguards, particularly those concerning the CRZ Act, remain vital for long-term ecological stability, say officials. But critics argue that selective enforcement and lack of a clear, scientific extraction policy for non-CRZ areas have created a vacuum ripe for this, there is a rising public demand for the district administration to revisit its policies. Civil society groups have called for minimal royalty rates, regulated extraction in non-sensitive areas, and a halt to the indiscriminate export of resources outside the region. What began as a regulatory exercise to protect the coast has now become, many allege, a political economy of control. As coastal Karnataka's development hinges on infrastructure, affordable housing, and sustainable employment, many believe the region must reclaim both access and accountability over its natural wealth.

Fishermen protest real estate project near Chirala beach
Fishermen protest real estate project near Chirala beach

Time of India

time2 days ago

  • General
  • Time of India

Fishermen protest real estate project near Chirala beach

1 2 3 Vijayawada: Plans to develop a private real estate venture along the coast near Chirala have sparked a major controversy, with local fishermen strongly opposing the closure of the sea mouth. The agitated fishing community has threatened large-scale protests if the developers do not withdraw. The fishermen allege that the real estate firm pressurised officials to obtain land documents in violation of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms. The Lok Ayukta has also directed the district collector and the chairman of district-level CRZ committee to investigate the allegations and safeguard the coastline. Fishermen from Vijayalakshmipuram, Adavipallepalem, Danavayipeta, Kripanagaram, Tsunami colony, Ramapuram, Vadarevu, Chinna Barapa, Pedda Barapa, and Ramachandrapuram depend entirely on fishing for their livelihoods. Around 12,000 people from these 10 villages rely on the sea mouth (or C-mouth) for decades, operating approximately 1,500 boats from the natural jetty formed near the Eepurupalem straight cut. During heavy rains, agricultural run-off from upstream flows through the Eepurupalem straight cut, passing through Adavi Pallepalem and curving at the coast before merging into the sea. This naturally formed sea mouth spans over a kilometre. Last week, fishermen were shocked to find the sea mouth and adjacent sand dunes destroyed. They have accused a Guntur-based real estate firm of causing the damage in blatant violation of CRZ rules. The firm allegedly started construction of a resort by laying roads and obstructing the natural water flow with boulders, narrowing the sea mouth. "They have obstructed natural flow of water with large boulders, reducing the nearly a kilometre-wide sea mouth to just four metres by filling up the area. The district level committee under the Andhra Pradesh Coastal Zone Management Authority (APCZMA) has remained silent," alleged social activist Nagarjuna Reddy. In a petition, he alleged that the developers used heavy machinery and hundreds of tractors to flatten sand dunes over a kilometre, fill aqua ponds on patta land to encroach upon the coastline. District collector JV Murali said the administration would verify the records and act based on facts.

Belapur to get 500-bed super specialty hosp post CRZ nod
Belapur to get 500-bed super specialty hosp post CRZ nod

Time of India

time4 days ago

  • Business
  • Time of India

Belapur to get 500-bed super specialty hosp post CRZ nod

Navi Mumbai: The state govt approved construction of a 500-bed super-specialty hospital in Belapur to be built in phases. The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) received directives to commence this significant project, which aims to enhance public healthcare services in Navi Mumbai. NMMC Commissioner Kailas Shinde confirmed obtaining essential permissions, including environment clearance and new development plan approval. The initial phase involves creating a 100-bed facility at a cost of Rs 250 crore. A previous tender process was suspended due to a High Court PIL regarding environment clearance and development plan approval issues. With current govt authorisation, NMMC plans to present the acquired permissions to the court to proceed with the public hospital construction. "The tender validity was extended and opening of the bidding will commence shortly. The govt urged swift construction initiation for public benefit," Shinde stated. "The comprehensive project, valued at Rs 800 crore, encompasses a medical college and super-specialty hospital with 500 beds. Phase one involves establishing a 100-bed super-specialty hospital at Rs 250 crore. Phase two, budgeted at Rs 550 crore, includes medical college construction and hospital expansion from 100 to 500 beds," explained Belapur MLA Manda Mhatre, who communicated with the chief minister for approval. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai The project faced challenges with partial land falling under the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ), requiring clearance. Additionally, NMMC's new draft Development Plan (DP) awaited state approval. "We secured both DP approval and CRZ clearance, clearing construction obstacles," confirmed Shinde. A civic official noted that while the plot was previously designated as a playground in the old DP, NMMC's new DP redesignated it for healthcare facilities. Phase one completion is estimated at 3-4 years. Cidco allocated approximately 32,000 square metres at plot 4, sector 15A, adjacent to civic headquarters in Belapur, for the medical college and super-specialty hospital. NMMC paid Rs 88 crore to Cidco for the land. "The development will utilise 22,000 square metres beyond CRZ restrictions, with approval secured. The remaining 10,000 square metres under CRZ remains non-developable," NMMC clarified. "The pandemic highlighted the necessity for public healthcare facilities when Covid patients struggled to access affordable treatment and specialist care," Mhatre noted. Cidco sources indicate the plot's designation in NMMC's draft DP as a park could be modified for healthcare purposes. However, local residents who use the space as a recreational area expressed opposition.

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