A tender process which was floated recently for a controversial plot in Nerul which falls in CRZ1, as per the environmentalists, was cancelled by City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) as the bidding offer received for the same was well below the market rate.
A statement was released regarding the same which stated that the price offered in the bid for the 25,138.86 square meters plot at Sectors 54-56-58 was ‘far below’ and details regarding the same were shared by the concerned body to the Western Zonal bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT). Owing to the unsatisfactory response, the tendor was cancelled by the body.
Several petitions were raised by the citizens, NMEPS and other bodies who approached the NGT demanding a right action be taken for the plot. Officials mentioned that they had challenged the tender process for the above-mentioned plot whereby the growth of mangroves is abundant, and the land is located in the buffer zone nearby. Applications for the petition were filed by Rekha Sankhala, Manmeet Singh Khurana, Ritu Mittal, R K Narayan, Mahendra Singh Panghaal and Anjali Agarwal. A report regarding the same was published in the Hindustan Times.
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Sharing more details and quoting BN Kumar, Foundation Director - NatConnect Foundation director B N Kumar, Hindustan Times published, “It is a big face-saving trick by CIDCO. Citing poor response, it has wriggled out of the situation it was in. One has to keep a watch on CDCO since its credentials with regards to environmental care are always doubtful. CIDCO has allotted a mangrove zone plot to Tirupati Balaji Mandir and a CRZ1 area to Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation’s super specialty hospital.”
As per reports, he was the first person to raise an issue regarding the sale of the plot. It is also being said that the land is in the ‘No Development Zone’ as per the plan and falls on the seaward side of the road. Basis this, no development can be made in the designated area.
With regards to the tender, officials have informed that an undertaking has been given by CIDCO to the NGT and according to the same a 50-meter buffer zone would be included in the retendering process.
On the other hand, an affidavit was also filed by the authorities from the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) confirming that the land comes under the CRZ1 and parts of CRZll, owing to which a map has to be obtained by CIDCO from the concerned body in Chennai, the cost for which could be approximately INR 4.5 lakh which CIDCO will have to include in the budget.
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CIDCO has been ordered to pay the amount in one week and complete the mapping process as directed by the NGT, post which a report will have to be submitted, evaluated to initiate the retender. As of now, March 2, 2023, has been finalised as the next hearing date and more details about the development will be made soon.
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