Mumbai: At least 51 proposals to resume mining in Parsik Hills in Thane district, a 38-hectare ecologically fragile area, have been deferred by the Maharashtra State Environment Impact Assessment Authority.
The decision was taken at the SEIAAs meeting held on January 25. This was mainly because the applicants had not prepared a cohesive environment management program.
Thane guardian Minister Eknath Shind had announced in June lastyear that he would resume mining on the land. After meeting with a delegation local quarry operators, Shinde assured them that the mines which were shut down five year ago will be re-opened to assist the Navi Mumbai project-affected population (PAP), and to create 40,000 new jobs. CIDCO has been allocating quarries to PAP since 1972 in lieu of land acquired for the development and expansion of Navi Mumbai.
Shindes’ announcement last year was met by resistance from environmentalists who have been writing Uddhav Thackeray to voice their concerns. They believe that resuming quarrying operations in Navi Mumbai’s heartland will be detrimental to not only the environment but also to residents of Vashi and Turbhe, Belapursolis, Ghansolis, Rabale, Nerul.
The parcel of land in question is also under the jurisdiction and control of the forest department. This raises concerns about the environmental impact of the project, in addition to the damage already done to the area by extensive quarrying.
Thane District Environment Impact Assessment Authority, (DEIAA), had in February 2018 called for a joint inspection at Parsik Hill quarry locations by the forest department as well as Cidco. The forest department stated that 248 hectares had been mined in violation to clearances, compared to 138 hectares.
The 51 quarries that are currently being reopened are located in Turbhe, Bonsari and Pawne, Shiravane, Kukshet villages. Turbhe and Bonsari account for 32 of the 26 hectares of mines. Clearances for the mines were sought individually. Most applications sought to mine less than five hectares. CIDCO will be able to skip a public hearing, according to environmentalists. This is part of the process’ environment impact assessment.
The cumulative effect of the proposals on the area must be considered, stated BN Kumar, director at the Navi Mumbai-based NGO NatConnect Foundation. He has expressed his concerns to the CM about this issue.
The January meeting of the SEIAA reflected the same views and noted that in 2019, the state expert appraisal committee, (SEAC), had instructed that such an environment management plan be prepared in order to anticipate the effects of quarrying upon the air quality, topography, and hydrology of the site. This was in the interest both of environment sustainability and development. The Authority has deferred the proposal while noting that the PP should prepare a detailed environment management plan together and take responsibility for implementing it.
NatConnect, in a letter to CM this week, stated that CIDCO’s apparent backdoor attempt to resume quarrying despite the opposition of many stakeholders including the Forest Department and Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation, (NMMC).
The NMMC filed an affidavit at the Bombay High Court to request that mining in the area is halted due to adverse effects on the environment and public safety.
CIDCOs environment officer responded to a request for comment. He said that they had not heard of any application to resume quarrying in Parsik Hills.
Kailash Shinde (joint managing director at CIDCO), directed inquiries to Ajinkya Padwal (CIDCOs land acquisition officer). Ajinkya Padwal did not return multiple calls for comment. Abhijit Bangar (commissioner, NMMC) stated that mining clearances are not within our jurisdiction. If the mines will be reopened with all the necessary permissions, then we cannot do anything about it. One hopes that there will be a plan to reduce its impact.