Mumbai: After taking charge as the Chief Minister, the first decision that Uddhav Thackeray took as CM of the state was to halt the work on proposed metro car shed at Aarey Milk Colony and was praised by the activists and citizens alike. But within a couple of months, the environmentalist in Thackeray seems to have been buried under the development, as he has not uttered even a single word against the coastal road and the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) connecting Sewree and Nhava Sheva in Navi Mumbai.
While announcing the decision, Thackeray had made tall claims that he will not tolerate destruction of the environment in the name of development. “It is our heritage and natural wealth. I will not allow plucking of even a leaf, leave alone cutting a tree in the name of development,” Thackeray had said while making the announcement.
But the hollowness in the resolve, exposed when the state government did not move after the stay on the work of proposed coastal road was vacated and the work began in full swing. He launched the first girder for ambitious MTHL at Sewree, on Wednesday. The environmentalists in the city have been opposing the project claiming that it will destroy the flamingo habitat. Experts, too have given adverse opinions about the project, but the government bulldozed the same.
During the programme on Wednesday, CM Thackeray claimed that the project will not affect the flamingo habitat. “In fact, I have noticed that the birds have adapted to the situation well and the MTHL will not be a hurdle for the avifauna in any manner,” he said.
Stalin D, Director Projects, Vanashakti says, the chief minister must exhibit same resolve for every project. There cannot be different standards for different projects. “As far as metro car shed at Aarey is concerned, it would have been beginning of the end of the entire forest with the various projects those were to follow the car shed. The advantage of MTHL is that it is elevated and the birds can easily adapt to it. Still, the effect on small birds coming to the area needs to be studied,” he said.
Terming the coastal road a disaster, Stalin said, if the chief minister is really concerned about the environment, he should scrap the current plan and make it completely on stilt. “Now he cannot blame the earlier government for the blunder in design and continue with it. He should not allow reclamation of huge patch of sea in the name of development,” Stalin said.
