Pedder Road flyover:NGT seeks govt response over CRZ clearance

The National Green Tribunal today sought the Centre's response on a plea seeking a stay on the grant of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance for construction of the 4.1-km-long Pedder Road flyover in Mumbai.
A bench headed by Justice P Jyothimani issued notice to the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) and others on a plea filed by Pedder Road Residents Association.
Conceived in 2000, the proposal of the project has been facing stiff opposition from the residents of the Pedder Road, including singers Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhonsle, with respect to the increased levels of air and noise pollution it is likely to cause.

The matter was fixed for next hearing on November 19.
"Issue notice by registered acknowledgment/post and Dasti as well. Notice returnable on November 19," the bench said.
The plea, filed through advocates Rahul Chaudhary and Maneka Kaur, has contended that the CRZ approval is contrary to the guidelines laid down by the Environmental Impact Notification of 2006 and will cause extreme distress to the environment and health of the residents if allowed construction.

The plea has alleged that the flyover which is proposed between two most congested road junctions in South Mumbai will cause a massive disruption of the traffic grid due to the sheer density and volume of the vehicular traffic.

It further claimed that the air quality standards is already above the national standards in the proposed location and exposing the residents to even higher levels of air pollution will violate their right to health.
"Quash the CRZ clearance granted by the Ministry of Environment and Forests on September 4 for the construction of viaduct of 300m length at Rajni Patel Chowk and 200m loop at Tambe Chowk on Pedder Road to M/s Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation Limited (MSRDC)," the plea said.