A 24-acre Bandra Reclamation plot near the sea link toll plaza, proposed for commercial development, “is completely out” of the coastal regulation zone (CRZ) and can be developed, the Union environment ministry and the developer told the Bombay High Court last week in response to two PILs challenging the land allotment.
The PILs, filed by activist Zoru Bhathena and the Bandra Reclamation Area Volunteers Organisation, argued that environmental clearance for the Bandra-Worli Sea Link included a condition that reclaimed land near the toll plaza would not be used for commercial purposes. They claimed the tender process for land allotment violated this condition and that CRZ regulations do not permit such development on reclaimed land.
Senior counsel representing MSRDC noted that since Mahim Creek is classified as a bay, the land in question isn’t within the CRZ. In a bay area, CRZ applicability is restricted to 100m from the sea, rather than 500m.
The developer’s affidavit denied all claims in the PIL, citing a report submitted in October 2024 by the Institute of Remote Sensing, Anna University, Chennai, based on MSRDC’s request, which confirmed that the project site falls outside the CRZ as per the approved Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP).
The Union ministry reiterated its December 5, 2024 affidavit, adding that the plot falls outside the purview of the CRZ under the 2019 CRZ notification, which superseded previous notifications. A bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Bharati Dangre directed other authorities who have yet to file affidavits to do so
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