Mumbai Metro-III project to generate muck that can fill 14 Shivaji parks: Study

MUMBAI: Mumbai’s 33.5 km Metro-III project will generate enough muck to fill a 13.8 lakh sq metre dumpsite four metres deep, states the Environment Impact Assessment Report prepared by consultants RITES. Metro-III is the Colaba-BKC-SEEPZ line, most of which will be underground.
Ashwini Bhide, head of Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL), which is executing the project, said the report suggests that the muck may be used for reclamation in the coastal road project or be transported to quarries in Thane and Raigad districts.Deep-sea dumping, 100 km from Mumbai’s coast, or dumping into the Rohini creek at Shrivardhan village on the Raigad coast are the other options. Bhide said, “The report has been examined and approved by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).” JICA is lending to the Rs 23,136-crore project.
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Environmentalists have, however, trashed the report for its failure to provide a detailed plan for muck disposal. They say the report is poorly researched and without any study on how the disposal will burden road infrastructure.
“The Union ministry of environment and forests always insists on dredged sand for reclamation purposes. This is because alien soil used for reclamation can destroy marine ecology. The report does not state if the MoEF is willing to make an exception for this project,’’ said D Stalin, director, NGO Vanashakti. The NGO has already filed a PIL in the Bombay High Court against the cutting of trees for the Metro-III car shed at Aarey Colony.

RITES has also proposed deep-sea dumping as an options, pointing out that such sites are available within 100 km of Mumbai. But at the same time, it cautions that detailed investigations should be taken up for the purpose.
The consultants have even suggested using muck for reclamation for the proposed terminal 4 at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust. This, states the consultant, is possible only if the two projects are synchronised.
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Another alternative proposed in the report is dumping in abandoned quarries in Thane and Raigad districts about 100 km from the city. The report however points out that entrance roads to a number of these quarries do not exist and states the 54 lakh cubic metres of muck will have to be transported by trucks to the nearest proposed jetty. “Truck movement required for transporting the muck/earth will be about 591 truck trips per day for the entire length.
On an average a truck is anticipated to travel about 50km per trip. Hence, the total distance travelled will be 29,550km per day. The road condition in Mumbai being good, dust generation due to transportation of muck will be insignificant,’’ the report states. However, activists questioned whether trucks will be allowed to ply during the day in the city, impacting daily commuter traffic.

BMC officials pointed out that a few years ago, the corporation was approached by Reliance Industries which was setting up an SEZ at Dronagiri in Navi Mumbai, to allow its contractors to dump debris for reclaiming SEZ land. “A few months later the contractors abandoned it as it was too expensive and there was no road to the SEZ,” said officials.
Environmentalist Rishi Agarwal said the authorities would need to look at several options. “Ideally, taking the sea route to the abandoned quarries would be the best option. They may need to create new roads from the coast to the quarries,” he said.
The option of filling up Rohini Creek has been offered by M/s Das Offshore Engineering Pvt Ltd, which is setting up a minor port there. Stalin said the first question that the consultant should have asked is whether permissions have been granted for such filling. “They have offered options that do not appear feasible or likely to get environmental clearance,” said Stalin.
One more alternative offered in the report is recycling and reusing the muck for road beds, as ballast for railways, construction material etc. The report stated that IIT-Bombay is being appointed to study the option.