Photo by Sachin Haralkar

More than 20,000 sqm of construction activity around Thane creek will now need clearance from National and State Wildlife Board; builders say it will impact timelines, demand 30-day clearance.The state government has directed all builders undertaking construction activity greater than 20,000 sq mt and within the 10-km radius of Thane creek’s Flamingo Sanctuary to seek permission from the National and State Wildlife Board In a letter written to all municipal commissioners in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), with a copy to Mumbai Mangroves Protection Cell , divisional forest officer VR Jagtap has said that developers should apply online for permission from the wildlife board. The letter was written on April 16. On May 10, the state government also issued a detailed map demarcating the area in which permission for construction is required from the board. The area includes Bandra and Andheri East, all the eastern suburbs of the city such as Vikhroli, Kurla, Bhandup, Mulund, Thane and Navi Mumbai.The notification is likely to affect the government’s ambitious projects such as Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link connecting Sewri in island city and Nava-Sheva across the creek, and the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport The government notified Thane creek as a flamingo sanctuary in October 2017. In December 2018, the Supreme Court asked all the states to declare 10-km area around national parks and sanctuaries as eco-sensitive zones till the time they demarcate such area. A senior state government official said, “The notification has been issued as per the apex court’s order and it will remain in place till eco-sensitive zone around the sanctuary is finalised.”The official further said, “The plan has been sent to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF). Until then, the restriction of getting permission from wildlife board remains.” He also clarified that “all projects that do not have occupancy certificate will have to get this clearance.”“This will stop all construction activity in the area. Environmental clearances have been painful for us. One more permission from central wildlife board will mean it will never come,” said a leading developer who has ongoing projects in Vikroli, Kanjurmarg, Mulund, and Thane.Another developer, who has close to 15 projects in western suburbs, said, “These clearances can take one to two years and will have a huge impact on our timelines. The Centre should take the initiative and ensure a window of 30 days for these permissions.”Another developer, who is part of the National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO), a body which works under the aegis of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, said the eco-sensitive zone restrictions may not lead to stoppage of construction work, pending permissions.“The state government has already sent a plan to the Centre specifying the areas where restrictions are absolutely necessary. It will not impact the entire 10 km demarcated zone. Once the new government is in place and approves this plan, it will come into effect. I don’t think this can impact the already ongoing projects. But new projects of more than 20,000 sq m built-up area will have to take environmental clearances from the board.,” the developer said.