State coastal zone management authority rejects Tata's proposal to relocate 520 mangroves to modernise its Trombay unit.

The Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority has rejected a proposal from Tata Power to relocate 520 mangroves from the Mahul creek as part of a plan to turn one of its Trombay power plants into a fully coal-powered unit.

The MCZMA, whose clearance is necessary for all projects along the coastal areas, has asked the company to look at alternatives that will not harm the mangroves.

Tata Power's Unit 6 in Trombay currently runs on a mix of coal, gas and oil as fuel. Though the company has enough oil, a severe shortage of natural gas has forced the company to look at a coal-powered plant as an alternative.

Since coal is cheap, the company argued that it will also be able to supply power to consumers in Mumbai at cheaper rates. The company claimed in a statement that the switch to coal will bring down the per-unit cost of electricity from Rs 13.23 to Rs 4.48 by 2016. It said it will pass on this benefit to the consumers. But local residents and fishermen in the area opposed the project citing pollution concerns.

Placing its proposal before the MCZMA, Tata Power said it will set up a Flue Gas Desulphurisation plant to control sulphur dioxide emissions. In order to construct a cooling channel for the FGD, the company sought permission to remove 520 mangroves in the Mahul Creek that were in the way. In return, the company promised to plant mangroves on 25 hectares of land at Sarsole, Navi Mumbai, with the help of the forest department. The MCZMA was not in favour of this proposal and has asked the company to look for better alternatives.

"We have decided not to allow any destruction of mangroves and rejected Tata Power's proposal," said AT Fulmali, member secretary, MCZMA. "We have asked the company to explore alternatives that do not involve the destruction of mangroves. If they can come up with a suitable plan, they can then apply for approval again."

The state environment department is of the view that Tata should consult a hydraulic engineer to design a plan to remove silt without disturbing the mangrove vegetation.

Besides wanting to relocate the mangroves, Tata Power also sought permission to construct a fly ash brick-making unit in the CRZ area. It proposed to make 10,000 bricks from the fly ash. But the MCZMA denied permission to this brickmanufacturing unit also, saying constructions are banned close to the coast.

In a statement, Tata power said it is considering the MCZMA's recommendations. The statement said, "The MCZMA, in its meeting on August 30-31 discussed CRZ clearance for the proposed modernisation of existing Unit 6 by change of fuel from oil to coal at the Trombay Thermal Power Station. MCZMA has made certain recommendations that are being considered by Tata Power."

It said the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute was commissioned to review the Environmental Impact Assessment Report for the modernisation proposal. "The NEERI report has observed that Tata Power's proposed plan of change in fuel is carefully planned and designed such as to not lead to higher air pollution or water pollution," the statement said.

No to Ghodbunder-Thane bypass

In another decision, the MCZMA rejected outright the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority's proposal to build a bypass road from Ghodbunder Road to the Mumbai-Agra highway so that heavy vehicles could bypass Thane's crowded Majiwada area.

The urban body has planned a toll-free road from Gaimukh to Kasheli on NH3 at a cost of Rs 150 crore. But the MCZMA said the alignment of the road will greatly damage Ghodbunder's rich biodiversity. The MCZMA said the road will shift the city traffic towards the creek, disturbing the pristine ecology of the area and polluting the water body.