After a delay of over six months, the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) is yet to survey and classify correctly the coastal regulatory zone (CRZ) status of the 20 hectare wetlands plot at Kopri. In fact, the MoEF has shirked off its responsibility and has passed the buck on the state government. The western bench of the tribunal presided by justice Jawad Rahim and expert member Dr. Ajay Deshpande has now directed the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) to respond to the MOEF regarding the preparation of the CZMAP by August 23. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had directed the MoEF to carry out a survey of the place and reclassify it. This order was passed after two city-based environmentalists and an NGO had filed a petition with the tribunal, last year, stating that the MoEF had wrongly classified the wetland in Kopri from CRZ1 to CRZ3, thus allowing construction work in the green zone. The petition stated that the government body had not conducted a survey nor had held any meeting to change the wetland from CRZ1 to CRZ3. Following this, the western zone bench of the NGT on January 15, this year, gave the MoEF three months’ time to visit the wetlands and mangroves here and classify the area accordingly. The tribunal directed the MoEF to conduct a physical check of development, existence, height and distance of mangroves in the area after obtaining a factual report from the collector. They were also asked to consider the existence of saltpans, habitat of birds and their breeding grounds and include in the report which was to be presented on April 21. But, when the MoEF defaulted in producing the report, the western zone bench extended the deadline by 10 weeks, to July 11. After that they again asked for an extension of another two weeks. The MoEF finally submitted a report on July 28. However, they refused to take the responsibility of classifying the area as CRZ1 or CRZ3 and claimed that it was the duty of the state. The NGT had directed the MoEF to carry out a survey of the place and reclassify it. This order was passed after two city-based environmentalists and an NGO had filed a petition with the tribunal, last year, stating that the MoEF had wrongly classified the wetland in Kopri from CRZ1 to CRZ3, thus allowing construction work in the green zone.
2016, Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd.