NAVI MUMBAI: The Union Environment Ministry has instructed Maharashtra to investigate claims of violations of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) guidelines concerning the multi-tower Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) housing project in Kharghar. Environmental advocates raised concerns that the construction is too close to mangroves and the high-tide line.
Environmental groups have expressed that the project, which is set to accommodate nearly 10,000 families and small businesses, was constructed in an area prone to tidal flooding. They argue that warnings about rising sea levels were disregarded during both planning and execution phases.
B N Kumar, Director of NatConnect Foundation, stated that the project’s location could pose long-term climate risks to residents. NatConnect has also written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighting that the compound wall of the PMAY tower cluster at Mansarovar and Kharghar is situated merely 8 to 25 meters from the mangroves, substantially less than the required 50-meter buffer. Furthermore, the project’s environmental clearance mandated the establishment of a dense green barrier to protect the mangrove ecosystem, which has reportedly not been created.
Jyoti Nadkarni, convenor of the Kharghar Hills and Wetlands Forum, emphasized that constructing so close to the natural high-tide line could disrupt water flow patterns, leading to flooding in adjacent areas. She noted that development in coastal zones cannot continue as global sea levels rise.
In response to the complaints, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has tasked the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) with investigating the allegations and taking legal action if necessary. The Ministry’s communication reminded the state that enforcement of CRZ regulations lies with its coastal authority and requested a detailed response as soon as possible.
The 143rd MCZMA meeting, held on February 4, 2020, recognized that portions of the PMAY site fell under CRZ-1, where construction within the mangrove buffer is forbidden and a 100-meter setback from the creek must be maintained. Evidence submitted with the complaint, including recent photographs and Google Earth images, indicated that construction is too close to the mangrove edge. NatConnect reported that despite a prior reminder from the MoEFCC a year ago, no action has been taken. Environmental advocates are urging for an on-site inspection before any flats are allocated.
“Public safety and funding must be prioritized,” environmental advocates emphasized, offering to accompany inspection teams to identify violations on-site. They insist that a swift inquiry is necessary to prevent lasting ecological harm and protect residents from unnecessary coastal risks.
