HC asks Western Rly to plant mangroves at Rajodi, not Vasai

The Bombay high court modified its previous order to permit planting of 7,823 new mangroves at Rajodi instead of the formerly decided Vasai by the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP).

- Karuna Nidhi

MUMBAI:

The petition stems out of an environmental concern after the court allowed the Western Railways (WR) to remove 2,612 mangroves on August 30, to facilitate construction of fifth and sixth railway lines between Borivali and Virar.

These enhanced railway lines were expected to benefit approximately 1.7 million commuters using the WR suburban service. The most critical aspect of the construction was over the Vasai creek, where a mangrove plantation fell in the path of work. For this, the court directed the WR to take up compensatory afforestation for the land impacted by this by planting 7,823 mangroves at Vasai, Palghar.