The Union ministry of environment and forests has cleared the Nhava Seva-Sewri sea link project with a condition that the construction work should not hamper the flight path of the migratory birds that annually visit the mudflats located adjacent to the proposed sea route. |
Anil Kumar Lakhina, managing director, Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) said that the final clearance from the ministry was received on Tuesday. "We have received the final approval. This clears the way for the implementation of the project," he added. |
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The environment ministry had also sought information about the impact of the new sea link on the migratory birds and the local fishing community. |
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A senior secretariat official said: "The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) had raised the issue of migratory birds (flamingoes) that flock to the crescent shaped mudflats and mangroves between Sewri and Trombay in winter each year. All such environment issues have been addressed." |
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The environmental clearance for the Rs 6, 600 crore eight-lane 22.5 km sea link between Nhava Seva and (Sewri in) Mumbai city was imminent following the meeting held in February between Central and state government officials. |
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The environmental impact assessment report for the project was submitted to the Union government by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) on November 3, 2003. |
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MSRDC is also seeking in the range of Rs 1,000 crore from the Union government as viability-gap funding to make the project feasible for a private contractor to undertake on a build operate and transfer (BOT) basis. Union finance minister P Chidambaram had indicated positively to the proposal during his Budget speech. |
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