No extra FSI for buildings in coastal zone, says min ………Nauzer Bharucha
Mumbai: As minister for environment and forests Jairam Ramesh said on Wednesday that he was aware some politicians wanted to open up the citys salt pans to development, environmental groups and activists caution that its just a ruse to allow private developers to step up in and use these eco-sensitive areas for high-end commercial and residential development.
At a public meet to discuss ways to strengthen the Coastal Regulation Zone norms, Ramesh said, I can assure you that at the highest political level there is great concern for ecology and environment. He ruled out higher floor space index for existing buildings (which are redeveloped) falling under CRZ norms.
On the proposed Navi Mumbai airport to be set up by Cidco, the minister said an environmental assessment study conducted by IIT-Mumbai has begun and will be completed in a year. The ministry has given the terms of reference on how this study should be carried out. We want to neutralise the destruction of mangrove forests, he added. The airport project envisages clearing 425 acres of mangroves in this region.
We are sensitive to Mumbais economical growth, but are also committed to protecting its mangroves, said Ramesh. He also virtually turned down demands that Mumbai be treated as a special case while implementing the CRZ, which mainly prohibits construction activity 500 metres from the shoreline. Mumbais developers have largely been at the forefront of this demand, claiming that CRZ norms have frozen development activity near the sea and have also affected the redevelopment of thousands of dilapidated buildings.
Replying to a question from a citizen who favoured this special status, the minister said, Goa thinks it is unique, Kerala too thinks it is unique like Mumbai. The fact is that although CRZ is a central law, its implementation is entirely in the hands of the state government.
Ramesh sarcastically commented that every state has implemented CRZ creatively. You know what I mean by creatively, he said as the audience at Ravindra Natya Mandir burst out laughing. City-based environmental activists, including Girish Raut and Rishi Agarwal, pointed out how CRZ norms were circumvented in the city, starting from the development of the G block at BKC, which abuts the Mithi river.
BJP MLA Raj Purhoit told the minister of the problems faced by his constituency, especially Jagannath Sankersett Marg where a slew of dilapidated buildings are located. On one side of the road, buildings undergoing redevelopment benefit from the governments incentive construction schemes. But just across the street, residents benefit from no such development because it falls under the CRZ, said Purhoit. The Remaking of Mumbai Federation, which has proposed a cluster redevelopment scheme, submitted a proposal, asking that CRZ be waived as most of dilapidated buildings in this ward fall under the norms.
NO IN-PRINCIPLE APPROVAL
The environment ministry will henceforth give no in-principle approvals, Ramesh said after hearing about alleged violations in the setting up of Mundra port in Gujarat. The ministry will give either its approval or reject a project, he said adding, in-principle approval does not authorise any party to commence work. The minister also said an independent authority has been planned to ensure compliance with environmental laws. Also, by the year-end, a tribunal will be set up to hear environmental cases. The ministry will also start enforcing a long-forgotten stipulation requiring all approved projects to submit annual environmental audits.