Bombay HC asks BMC to stop coastal road project until Environmental Clearance is obtained

NEW DELHI: A huge setback came for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) post the decision from the Bombay High Court which stopped the coastal regulation zone (CRZ) clearances granted to the coastal road project.

The BMC officials said that the Corporation will take the case to Supreme Court. The coastal road project could be delayed nearly by six months and incur financial losses due to delay, added the officials.

A division bench of Chief Justice Nandrajog and Justice NM Jamdar said, on July 15, that the work on the project has been carried out without required permissions. The decision came in response to the petition filed by Shweta Wagh, a city-based architect, and eight other petitioners. Environment clearance (EC) is mandatory for the project and until this is procured, no further work may be carried out by the BMC, the bench added.

According to the BMC officials, EC mandate would require them to conduct a public hearing on the project and also prepare an environment impact assessment report. This is likely to delay the project by six months minimum.