Latest news with #CoastalRegulationZone
Time of India
13 hours 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.
Indian Express
4 days ago
- General
- Indian Express
Versova RTS near Mumbai airport to be upgraded amid bird-strike concerns
Two weeks after an Air India aircraft crash claimed over 240 lives, Ashish Shelar, Guardian Minister of Mumbai (suburbs) directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation(BMC) to expedite the construction of a solid waste Refuse Transfer Station (RTS) at Versova as a preventive measure to curb bird strikes. 'During the meeting, it was observed that the increasing bird activity in and around the Versova RTS poses a significant threat to public safety, including potential for bird strikes leading to aircraft accidents, as well as general environmental and sanitation concerns,' the minutes of the meeting stated. The directive follows a June 14 report by The Indian Express highlighting how the presence of an open RTS near the Mumbai airport increases the risk of bird strikes, prompting civic authorities to consider an upgrade of the facility. On June 25, a joint meeting was called by Shelar that was attended by senior officials of the civic body, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL), Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and disaster cell of Mumbai. 'In the meeting, it was decided that the entire facility will be upgraded and the tenders for the same will be floated in the next 15 days. The primary objective is to prevent bird menace for which industrial sheds will be erected over the area to ensure birds like crows and vultures don't hover over the area,' a senior civic official told the Indian Express. An RTS is a waste processing site that serves for the temporary deposition and aggregation of solid waste. Mumbai currently has four such facilities at Mahalaxmi, Kurla, Versova and Gorai. The Versova RTS is located 8 km from the Mumbai airport, spread over a two-acre land, handling an average of 400-450 metric tons (MT) solid waste every day. The waste is stacked on open piles before they are transported in trucks and dumpers, attracting birds as a result. The Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB) guidelines mandates that open landfills should be set up at a minimum distance of 20 kilometres from airports and air bases. 'However, there is no such siting criteria applicable for setting up waste processing facilities,' read the CPCB guidelines published in 2019. 'The facility is located close to the mangrove zone and falls in an environment sensitive zone so the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms are also needed to be checked while carrying out the work,' the official added. It was also decided that various stakeholders, including start-ups, research institutions and resident welfare association (RWA), will also be involved to chalk out measures for bird menace. It was also decided to frame a comprehensive policy to prevent bird strikes. 'A dedicated committee comprising representatives from all relevant departments shall be constituted. The committee will coordinate and monitor the implementation of the measures at the Versova RTS. All the departments have also been directed to explore immediate long and short term measures to mitigate bird menace in a sustainable manner, ensuring environmental compliance and public safety,' the minutes of the meeting stated.
India.com
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- India.com
Shah Rukh Khan is in big trouble, it's related to his Rs 200 crore Mannat house, BMC team and Forest Department investigate...
Shah Rukh Khan's Mumbai home, Mannat, is a must-visit for anyone coming from out of town. Visitors to Mumbai often make it a point to pose in front of Mannat. Recently, there has been much discussion about Khan's house, especially since large-scale renovation work is currently underway. However, according to recent news, this work is now facing some obstacles. A few days ago, a Mumbai activist filed a complaint with the BMC regarding the renovation, prompting officials from the BMC and the Forest Department to visit Mannat for an investigation. The first inspection at Shah Rukh Khan's Mannat was done on Friday, June 20. The reason for complaining about the renovation of Mannat is that the actor's bungalow is a grade three heritage building. Also, this place is right in front of the shoreline, so it also comes under the Coastal Regulation Zone. In the complaint made to BMC, it was said that the renovation work in the bungalow is being done against the rules. After which, the officials came to his house for an investigation. Shah Rukh Khan's statement on Mannat rennovation Now it is being told that the entire investigation report has been given to Santosh Daundkar, who had filed the complaint. Two more floors are to be built in Mannat, and due to its location on the seashore, permission has to be taken from the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority. Talking about this matter, Khan has said that he has taken all the permissions, and all the renovation work is being done under the laws that are there under this permission. Shah Rukh Khan's manager Pooja Dadlani breaks silence… On the other hand, Khan's manager, Pooja Dadlani, has denied any such illegal activity. In a conversation with TOI, she stated that there is no complaint and that all work is being carried out according to the guidelines. During the recent inspection of Mannat, employees from BMC's H-West Ward Building and Factory Department, as well as the Building Proposal Department, were present along with officials from the Forest Department. A BMC official clarified that his team was only assisting the Forest Department and had no other role in the matter.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Odisha plans to ease forest, wildlife restrictions to boost tourism; experts call it dangerous
The Odisha government is seeking to ease environmental restrictions to promote tourism inside and around some of its most ecologically sensitive regions, including national parks, tiger reserves, coastal zones and Ramsar wetlands, according to government records. Legal and conservation experts say this move undermines forest, wildlife and biodiversity laws and tribal rights. According to minutes of a high-level meeting chaired by the Odisha Chief Secretary on May 30, the State plans to revisit and amend Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) notifications to remove clauses prohibiting construction and commercial activities. It also plans to request the Centre to allow forest land to be used for non-site-specific purposes such as hospitality infrastructure and to re-examine Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) classifications to accommodate more tourism projects along the coast. ESZs are buffer areas created around protected forests, wildlife sanctuaries and national parks to protect wildlife and biodiversity from harmful human activities such as mining, construction and polluting industries. Activities like farming, eco-tourism and the use of renewable energy are usually allowed with restrictions. The minutes note that the current "no commercial/no construction" clause in ESZ notifications "does not accurately reflect the enabling spirit" of the 2011 guidelines issued by the Centre. "ESZs notified/to be notified should be discussed with the Department of Tourism (DoT) and the tourism master plan should be taken into consideration," the MoM read. The State has decided to set up an empowered committee under the chairpersonship of the additional Chief Secretary, Forest and Environment Department, with the commissioner-cum-secretary, DoT; PCCF and HoFF; PCCF (Wildlife); director, environment; CEO, Chilika Development Authority; field directors of Satkosia, Bhitarkanika and Similipal; director, Nandankanan Zoo; managing director, IDCO; chief engineer, building; managing director, Odisha Bridge and Construction Corporation as members and the director, Tourism, as the member convener. However, independent ecologists, wildlife scientists or tribal representatives are absent from the panel. The committee will meet every two months to discuss issues relating to tourism projects vis-a-vis forest clearance and ESZs. Experts say Odisha's move could allow economic interests to shape regulatory frameworks meant for ecological protection and mark a dangerous departure from India's legal and ecological commitments. "The State is the constitutional trustee of forests and wildlife, with a mandate to safeguard these natural assets," Debadityo Sinha, Lead - Climate & Ecosystems at the Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, said. "A directive that requires states to merely 'take into consideration' the tourism master plan while notifying Eco-Sensitive Zones raises serious concerns. It implies that economic interests may override ecological imperatives," he said. The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 prohibits commercial construction inside national parks and sanctuaries unless it directly supports conservation or is part of approved low-impact tourism. Forest land diversion for non-site-specific purposes such as resorts would require forest clearance under the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980, and the consent of local Gram Sabhas under the Forest Rights Act, 2006. The State's proposal to remove ESZ construction restrictions is also at odds with the June 2022 directions of the Supreme Court mandating a minimum one-kilometre buffer around all protected areas to safeguard wildlife habitats. Mr. Sinha said the State's plan also contradicts the National Forest Policy, 1988, which clearly states that the derivation of direct economic benefit must be subordinate to environmental stability and the maintenance of ecological balance. "The push to expand tourism infrastructure and create exemptions for commercial activities is at odds with the spirit of the National Forest Policy, 1988," he said. "It also undermines the very rationale for notifying ESZs which is to function as shock absorbers around sanctuaries and national parks and protect ecological corridors among them." The State has also asked the Odisha Coastal Zone Management Authority to re-examine CRZ classifications to support tourism in areas having "extremely high potential". However, the minutes do not mention carrying capacity assessments, environmental impact studies or consultations with wetland authorities requirements especially critical in internationally recognised sites like Chilika Lake, a designated Ramsar wetland. "The same principle applies to CRZs for coastal areas and Ramsar sites for wetlands, where the focus should remain on ecological preservation," Mr. Sinha said. "There appears to be no discussion on ecological assessments such as carrying capacity studies, strategic environmental impact assessments or any scientific evaluation of the consequences of tourism activities on natural ecosystems and wildlife." "Such vague and arbitrary administrative directions not only violate statutory mandates under forest and wildlife laws, but also risk setting a dangerous precedent. They jeopardise Odisha's rich biodiversity and undermine both national and international obligations,' Mr. Sinha added.
India.com
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- India.com
Shah Rukh Khan's manager breaks silence on renovation at Mannat after BMC visit, says 'there are....'
Currently, SRK and his family are residing at their Pali Hill apartment while Mannat undergoes renovations. However, a recent complaint by social activist Santosh Daundkar has stirred controversy, accusing the actor and Maharashtra authorities of bypassing regulations related to the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ). The complaint, filed with the National Green Tribunal (NGT), alleges that renovation permissions may have been granted in violation of CRZ norms. Mannat is a Grade III heritage structure, comprising the original bungalow and a multi-storey annexe. This classification makes it subject to several heritage and environmental safeguards. Following the complaint, a joint team from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the forest department visited the property to inspect ongoing work. A forest official told the Times of India that a site inspection was indeed carried out, and a report would be submitted based on findings. Shah Rukh's manager, Pooja Dadlani, responded to the allegations, denying any wrongdoing. 'There are no complaints. All work is going on as per guidelines,' she told TOI. Meanwhile, sources say that SRK's staff assured authorities that all necessary permits and documents are in order and will be submitted shortly. Interestingly, reports also suggest that the BMC's presence was merely to assist the forest department, and not for an independent investigation. The iconic Mannat, formerly known as Villa Vienna, was acquired by Shah Rukh Khan in 2001. Since then, it has not only become a prime Mumbai landmark but also a symbol of SRK's journey from outsider to Bollywood royalty. Now, as the renovation continues amid rising scrutiny, all eyes are on what the inspection report will reveal. whether it's a procedural misunderstanding or a genuine lapse.
