For Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s pet project to build twin tunnel connecting Borivali to Thane, 122 trees in the core area and the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) of Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) will be cut down.
This development came after the State Board of Wildlife has approved a proposal allowing the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) as it will require 27 holes which will be drilled using explosives.
It is pertinent to note that this decision came when Mumbai is dealing with air pollution crisis owing to several construction work being taken place at the same time. Therefore, fearing criticism from environmentalists, the board meeting chaired by forest minister Sudhir Mungantiwar on Monday, October 16, was kept under wraps.
As per the agenda of the meeting, 68 of the 122 trees have a girth of less than 60 centimetres and the rest have a girth of more than 60 centimetres. As many as 15 holes of six inches will have to be drilled in the protected area and ESZ. The project cost is estimated at INR 18,795.70 crore. MMRDA has been asked to deposit 2% of the it, which comes to INR 379.54 crore, as mitigation costs, HT reports.
The wildlife board has said that they will have to conduct a study jointly with the Wildlife Institute of India for the project.
In an official statement, officials stated that the underground tunnels would give a direct connectivity to motorists from Borivali to Manpada and Ghodbunder Road in Thane and also give access to national highways 3 and 8.
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