Mumbai: Residents of Charkop Sector 8 are on edge after a BMC-appointed contractor began bringing in material for a test pile foundation study as part of Versova-Bhayander Link Road project, also referred to as the Mumbai Coastal Road – North.
The test, meant to assess ground strength for the proposed Coastal Road connector, will be conducted on the stretch where a controversial interchange is planned. Last week, a meeting was held among local MLA Sanjay Upadhyay, BMC officials, and residents protesting against the interchange coming into their area.
BMC officials told TOI that no construction work will begin until necessary NOCs from forest department and high court are secured. “[Also] ground testing will help determine if the site can bear weight of the elevated connector and analyse the structural design. The study will be conducted at ground level and should be over in two weeks. This will be done on the existing road at Charkop Sector 8, not in the intertidal area,” said the official.
However, residents opposing the project are not convinced. They argue that the connector, which cuts through a serene, mangrove-rich area, will permanently disrupt the locality’s peace and ecological balance. Mili K Shetty, a social activist and resident of Charkop Sector 8. said: “Mangroves at Sector 8, Charkop, have always acted as the flood rescuer of our area. Our area never saw floods even during the heaviest rainfall when entire Mumbai was under floods and people faced difficulties. Now, with the encroachment of the mangroves by 30 ft inside, and in addition by constructing a wall again 30 ft away from the building compound, you are directly inviting rain floods in the area…. Even, as per court orders, mangroves cannot be destroyed and need proper orders if [it is] decided to do so,” said .
The ambitious project will require 9,000 mangroves to be permanently cut. Natasha Pereira, a Bandra resident has said in a letter to be sent to the authorities to stopmangrove destruction. “This alarming decision puts at risk not just a vital ecological habitat, but also the flood protection, carbon sequestration, and climate resilience of the entire western suburbs of Mumbai…” states the letter.