Automated Translation:
There will be no oil spillage due to coastal projects

Claim of MSRDC officials in environmental public hearing

Sakaal News Service, Saturday, December 1, 2012

What does the MSRDC say?

In case of damage to nets and boats, the concerned committee will pay a compensation. The waterway will pass from a distance of 800 to 1000 meters from the sea shore. It will remedy the environmental issues left pending during the construction of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link. No filling will be done for the project, it will be completely on stilts.

Mumbai, 30th : The proposed passenger ferry project between Nariman Point and Borivali will not cause oil spillage. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) claimed in a public hearing today that the mangrove forests will not be damaged either.

Water transport has been proposed to reduce the pressure on passenger traffic in Mumbai. The Maharashtra Environmental Control Board (MPCB) held a public hearing this evening at the Social Service League auditorium in Parel to find out the objections or suggestions in this project. The public hearing was held before a committee headed by Mumbai-City Collector Chandrashekhar Oak. MPCB ​​officials and MSRDC Managing Director Bipin Shrimali were included in this committee.

During such large projects, heavy transport equipment is brought into the sea. These diesel-powered devices cause environmental damage by spilling oil into the sea. Similarly, some citizens raised the issue that mangrove forests on the coast are also adversely affected. He also asked what precautions have been taken in this regard. Refueling will take place only at Nariman Point and Bandra. MSRDC officials claimed that there will be no oil spill. As this road will be constructed on stilts, there is no risk of damage to mangrove forests, explained the project consultant, Dr. Umesh Kulkarni.

Vedant Katkar, General Secretary of Worli Koli Diverse Executive and Co-operative Society raised several issues, alleging that we were kept in the dark about this public hearing. Kulkarni and Subhash Nage, Chief Engineer of APHSRDC, said that an advertisement was given about this hearing a month ago.

MSRDC has discussed with the fishermen of Borivali, Marve, Versova, Juhu, Bandra, Nariman Point and will continue to discuss all objections and issues, Nage said. Krishna Chandu of Worli alleged that sewage water is being released into the sea at some places and the administration is ignoring it. MPCB officials vowed to address this matter seriously._____

Opposition to Nariman Point to Borivali water transport

Fishermen Action Committee warns of agitation

5th : While the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) made several claims of safety in the recent environmental public hearing on the proposed passenger ferry project between Nariman Point and Borivali on the west coast, the All Maharashtra Fishermen's Action Committee has strongly opposed the project itself. The Action Committee has claimed that this project will cause huge damage as there is more fishing business on the west coast. Also, the chairman of this committee, Damodar Tandel, has warned that fishermen will protest if there is an attempt to build this project.

There is a lot of dissatisfaction among the fishermen as the MSRDC has completed the tender process for this project without taking the fishermen into confidence. Due to this planned project, nearly six lakh Kolis, who have been fishing for generations on the west coast of Mumbai, will be destroyed. On the coast from Nariman Point to Marve-Borivali, the ports of Cuffe Parade, Worli, Mahim, Bandra, Chimbai, Khardanda, Juhu, Vesave, Madh, Bhati, Malvani, Marve, Manori, Gorai carry on a large scale fishing business. Therefore, if this project is implemented, there will be a huge loss to the fishing business, Tandel said in a press conference.

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Versova-Bandra sea bridge project green lighted from Maritime Board?

Sakaal - Thursday, 6 December 2012.

Mumbai, 5th: The National Association of Fishermen and Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has claimed to have received the green light from the Bandra-Kadeshwari Fishermen's Association and the Maharashtra Maritime Board. Sources said that the expert committee of the environment department has also recommended CRZ approval for this project.

The state government has appointed MSRDC as the 'nodal agency' for the implementation of the 10-km long Versova-Bandra Sea Bridge project at a cost of around Rs 4,000 crore. MSRDC officials also interacted with various associations and resident groups over the months to get support from the fishermen for the project, and presented the proposed scheme to the fishermen's associations. These organizations then gave the green light to the project.

The National Association of Fishermen agreed with the option of constructing the road 900 meters from the beach, also requesting that 80 meters wide and 11.7 meters high boating chambers be provided for the movement of fishing boats at three locations at Chimbai Road, Khardanda and Juhu Koliwada. The Bandra-Kadeshwari Fishermen's Association also expressed no objection to the project and requested the construction of a new jetty of 5.5 by 50 meters for the fishing business. The organization also requested to develop an area of ​​about 1000 square meters with a security wall near Bandra Fort for net weaving, repair and maintenance of boats. Sources said that the Maritime Board has also informed that it has no objection to implement the project as per the proposed plan if the relevant conditions are complied with.