In a recently held meeting, Maharashtra Environment and Tourism Minister, Aaditya Thackeray, said that the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) should focus on environment-friendly development of the Hindu Hruday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg (Samruddhi Highway) and other various highways in the state.
A meeting was held at the Ministry on Monday, November 2, 2020, to discuss the same, and present at the meeting were Environment Minister Aaditya Thackeray, Manisha Mhaiskar, Principal Secretary, Environment Department, Radheshyam Mopalwar, Vice President and Managing Director, Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation, Vijay Waghmare, Joint Managing Director, Dr Chandrakant Pulkundwar, Member Secretary of Pollution Control Board Ashok Shingare among others.
Officials discussed the use of fly ash from thermal power plants for the construction of Samrudhi Highway. Besides this, the benefits of using solar energy, rainwater harvesting, afforestation and promotion of using electric vehicles were also discussed by the members.
Sharing more information, Aaditya Thackeray said that the use of electric vehicles is beneficial for the protection of the environment, and it is necessary to promote the same for the future. Keeping this in mind, the government has offered various concessions and benefits for these vehicles and has asked the officials to evaluate if electric vehicles can be given some concessions at the toll booths on the highways operated by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation.
Besides this, the ash emitted from thermal power projects can be used in road construction pollution and if this can be possible, then it could help the government control pollution. He further suggested that emphasis be given to the use of solar energy, rainwater harvesting as well as planting trees on both sides and dividers of the highway during the construction of the highway. These plans can be implemented currently on Samrudhi Highway, Mumbai-Pune Expressway and others.
The Botanical Institute of India has sent recommendations for tree planting, in connection with the protection of the environment, and has said that the trees that are conducive to the environment in the respective districts have been selected by the team. Benefits of geo-tagging of trees have also been planned for their preservation and conservation for a span of five years.
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