Mumbai: Maritime Board files caveat with NGT over Aksa sea wall

The Maharashtra Maritime Board MBB has filed a caveat with the National Green Tribunal NGT in order to build a sea wall at Aksa beach in Madh Malad even as environmentalists have finalised plans to challenge the structure which they termed lsquoantinaturersquo and lsquoillegalrsquoAccording to NGO NatConnect Foundation MMB filed the caveat against environmental groups to ldquopray that no orders be passed without due notice to the caveatorproposed respondent in the original application which may be filed by the caveatees against the proposed construction of the sea wallrdquoThe NGO pointed out that this is the first time that MMB has used the expression lsquosea wallrsquo a structure that has been banned by the NGT ldquoMoreover the wallrsquos status is not merely lsquoproposedrsquo as stated in the caveat but the structure is nearing completionrdquo said B N Kumar director NatConnectAlso Read Mumbai lsquoSewage from towers flowing right into our backyardrsquoEnvironmentalist Zoru Bhathena said the MMB in its initial proposal for the CRZ nod stated that it planned to construct a gabion wall which the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority MCZMA rejected outright in its 115th meeting in January 2017ldquoThe authority felt that the beach may be eroded due to solid construction Further solid construction is not permissible as per the CRZ Notification 2011 Subsequently the board changed the expression to lsquoparapet wallrsquo and later to lsquorepairing an old bundrsquo and went ahead with the construction in the middle of the beach an obvious CRZ1 areardquo he alleged Environmentalist B N Kumar claims the wall also violates a ruling by the NGT against such structures at beaches across states and Union TerritoriesA special bench of the NGT in its order dated April 11 2022 took note of the National Institute of Ocean Technology NIOT design of a hybrid solution for the first time in India with two reefs and sand nourishment for restoring the eroding beach along Puducherry The tribunal also observed that a similar pattern could be applied to shore management plans of other beaches as wellMeanwhile under pressure from environmentalists MMB has formed a committee to look into the concerns over the violation of CRZ norms Dr H Kharkwal the additional director and scientist at the Union Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Control that was approached by NatConnect directed Abhay Madhukar Pimparkar member secretary MCZMA in an email to check the complaintMMB in its latest letter to MCZMA following the ministry mail described the Rs 495 crore project as part of antisea erosion measures and said the work received approval from the district planning commission The letter claimed that MMB had received the MCZMA and State Environment Impact Assessment Authority nodEnvironmentalists however rejected outright the committee idea stating that any inquiry should be held by an independent panel and not by the MMB In their complaint to the Centre and the state government they said the ldquomonstrousrdquo wallmdash10foot high 14foot wide and running up to over 600 metresmdashwas being erected in the middle of the beach in CRZ1According to a NatConnect member Dr Kharkwal reminded Pimparkar that the ministry ldquodelegates power to the State Coastal Zone Management Authority under Section 5 of the Environment Protection Act 1986 to take action against violation cases It is requested that action applicable with the law may be taken if all aforesaid grievances are affirmativerdquoKumar said ldquoWe are consulting our legal teamsrdquo495 crCost of sea wall project in rupees