Environmentalists Raise Alarm Over PMAY Projects Encroaching on Protected Mangrove Zones in Navi Mumbai

Environmental activists have raised concerns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that the Prime Minister’s Awas Yojana (PMAY) in Navi Mumbai is encroaching on protected mangrove zones and violating environmental regulations. The complaint, submitted by the NatConnect Foundation through the PMO Public Grievance website, highlights that PMAY projects, particularly in Mansarovar and Kharghar, are being constructed near mangroves, mudflats, and inter-tidal wetlands.

The status report on the website indicates that the issue has been forwarded to Arvind Kumar Agrawal, a director in the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC). NatConnect’s director, B N Kumar, pointed out that the compound wall of the Kharghar project, located on the northern side of the railway station, is alarmingly close to the mangroves, with a separation of only 8 to 25 meters, which breaches both central and state environmental clearances.

The Environmental Clearance (EC) summary from the Union Ministry of Environment & Climate Change explicitly stated that no mangroves should be disturbed during the construction and that a 50-meter buffer zone must be maintained. It also called for dense vegetation along the buffer to prevent dust and other emissions from impacting the mangrove areas. NatConnect supported its complaint with recent Google Earth images and ground-level photographs.

During the 143rd meeting of the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority on February 4, 2020, it was noted that parts of the projects fall under Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) 1, prohibiting Cidco from building within the 50-meter mangrove buffer zone and requiring a 100-meter CRZ setback from the creek.

Despite these regulations, the Kharghar project has proceeded in what environmentalists describe as a "danger zone." Jyoti Nadkarni from the Kharghar Hills and Wetland Forum expressed concerns that the construction could push the high tide line towards Panvel creek, potentially causing flooding in other areas.

She also criticized urban planners for building so close to the sea at a time when rising sea levels are a significant global issue. NatConnect Foundation warned that the 10,000 residents expected to live in the Kharghar project would be at constant risk of tidal wave impacts.

The foundation has called for an on-the-spot inquiry to ensure the safety of both people and property, stressing that taxpayer money, which subsidizes the PMAY project, should be used responsibly.

NatConnect has also offered to assist in the investigation and highlight the environmental violations.