Damodar Tandel, the former leader of the Akhil Maharashtra Makchimaar Kruti Saniti (AMMKS), had challenged Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Memorial’s environment clearance in the NGT. He claimed that the project would harm the environment and impact marine biodiversity.
Prayag Arora-Desai, Mumbai
This week, the National Green Tribunal (NGT), invalidated a petition filed by a Koli community leader in 2017 challenging the grant of environment clearance (EC), by the Union environment ministry to PWD for the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Memorial. The HT has received a copy the Tribunals order dated May 11, 2017.
Damodar Tandel, the former leader of the Akhil Maharashtra Kruti Samiti, had challenged the EC claiming that the project would harm the environment and impact marine biodiversity. This site is 1.2km southwest of Raj Bhavan, and 3.6km southwest of the Girgaon jetty.
A Special NGT bench, chairperson Adarsh Kumar Goel, dismissed the appeal. It stated, “We find that the project was preceded by scientific studies, and all environmental safety precautions and mitigation measures have also been taken based upon expert studies.”
Damodar died in December 2020. His son, Devendra Tandel was elected president of the AMMKS.
Except for the obvious contention about the adverse effect on biodiversity, and the environment… no meaningful argument was raised to point out any infirmity during the grant of EC. The bench deemed the petitioners concerns unfounded.
Devendra Tandel, speaking to HT, said that he did not know about the NGT order which was passed on May 11. It is strange that the court did not record my father’s death. I will need to consult with the lawyer. Our stance on this project is negative. We saw the negative effects on fishermen in the case Coastal Road project. It also appears that there were all environmental safeguards in place.
After an environmentalists’ petition, the Supreme Court ordered that construction stop at the memorial.
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