Trans-harbour link project altered for flamingos
Taking the annual visit of the migratory bird, flamingo into consideration, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) claims to have changed the alignment of the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link project.
However, the other concern of the MMRDA is that five oil pipelines have come up at the same spot and due to this, the development body might have to once again change the alignment of the bridge.
“Taking the environment and the annual visit of the migratory bird into consideration, we have changed the alignment of the sealink to the south of the Sewri Timber Pond area,” said Rahul Asthana, metropolitan commissioner, MMRDA.
When asked if construction work on the sealink could result in a decline in the population of the birds, he said, “I cannot say if it will affect the birds or not.”
Atul Sathe, spokesperson of the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) said, “A few years ago, the BNHS, based on its own study, had recommended that if the alignment of the bridge was shifted 500 metres to the south, it would not affect the flamingos.”
The Sewri and Mahul mudflats have been marked as Important Bird Area (Iba) and are even included in the list of international Ibas. It is believed that due to disturbance during the construction phase, the flamingo population might dwindle.
However, MMRDA authorities are finding it difficult to get the land at the Sewri area from the Mumbai Port Trust. Apart from the changes in alignment, the MMRDA commissioner also raised concerns regarding reworking of the alignment of the sealink once again, due to the presence of oil pipelines between Sewri and Nhava. In 2005, when the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) had planned the same project and sought environmental clearance, these pipelines were not present at the site.
“In the last few years, five oil pipelines have come up. We need to check the map of the five pipelines and accordingly see if the alignment and span of the bridge is interfering with the pipelines and the project,” added Mr Asthana.
As per the details available, there are four pipelines belonging to the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and one to another petroleum company.
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