MUMBAI: In a relief to thousands of motorists travelling to Pune, Nashik and Goa and those commuting daily to Mumbai from Panvel, Kamothe and Kalamboli, the newly constructed
Kamothe toll post on the recently widened
Sion-Panvel Highway may not start collecting toll anytime soon.
The
National Green Tribunal’s western zone bench in Pune has termed the toll plaza construction and part of the widened highway illegal as, according to it, hundreds of mangroves have been hacked for the 23-km stretch without clearance from the
coastal regulation zone (CRZ) or
environmental authorities.
The tribunal has directed the state government and its contractor not to collect toll until further directives.
The tribunal has also appointed a commission, presided by
Thane district judge V K Shewale or any other district judge nominated by the Thane principal district judge, to visit the relevant area of 11.5 km, indicate alignment, including segregated area of the proposed toll plaza, and assess the damage to mangroves. The tribunal will decide the remedial action, including action against the state government and the contractor, based on the report.
Advocate Shweta Busar, who appeared on behalf of the
ministry of environment and forest, informed the tribunal that the ministry had neither granted CRZ nor environment clearance. “At present, the proposed construction of the toll plaza is not permissible under the law,” the copy of the tribunal order said.
“The records show that the project proponent initially submitted a proposal for a 18.8-km road, which passes through the CRZ area that may perhaps require CRZ and environmental permissions. It appears that the toll plaza construction sought previously was dropped because it involved removal of mangroves and thereafter, notice of motion was filed before the Bombay high court. The HC directions showed that the proposed toll plaza would affect mangroves and permission shall be obtained from the competent authority as well as buffer zone shall be provided. These conditions are, admittedly, not yet complied with,” the order said.