Press Trust of India / Mumbai Aug 13, 2009, 15:35 IST
The Centre is not keen on developing salt pans in Mumbai as political leaders are concerned about its ecological and environmental impact, Union Minister for Environment and Forest Jairam Ramesh has said.
"My understanding is that currently there is no evidence among top political leaders that they are in favour of opening up the salt pans for development although there was some interest in the past," Ramesh said here yesterday at the public hearing on Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification.
"I feel that at the high levels of government and Congress party, there is a great concern for ecology and environment and therefore we would not take hasty decisions as the salt pans are vulnerable land," he said.
The Minister said a proper study should be conducted on the ecology, environment and socio-economic aspects of the entire salt pan area before taking appropriate steps.
Ramesh said he was aware that a section of political leaders (during NDA regime) wanted Mumbai's salt pans spread over 5,000 acres - to be opened up for development.
Some local Congress leaders have said the salt pans - hollows in the ground in which salt water evaporates to leave a deposit of salt could be utilised for slum rehabilitation programme.
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