MOEF can decide on mangroves removal to build new airport: HC

MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court has made it clear that no authority, including the Ministry Of Environment and Forest (MOEF), has been restrained from exercising its statutory authority by court's ban on destruction of mangroves.

The State government yesterday moved the Bombay High Court to clear a technical hurdle regarding coastal regulation zone (CRZ) rules for the proposed international airport at neighbouring Navi Mumbai.

Advocate General Ravi Kadam submitted that the State was having difficulties in getting clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forest for the airport project.

The MOEF was apprehensive of relaxing or amending CRZ notifications in view of an October 2005 High Court order banning destruction of mangroves and creating a 50 metres buffer zone for mangrove lands.

Kadam submitted that CRZ rules can be relaxed for vital public projects and the international airport was vital for the city.

Division bench of Justice Bilal Nazki and Justice V K Tahilramani said no authority has been restricted by court's order to exercise their statutory powers.

In 2005, in response to a PIL filed by the NGO Bombay Environmental Action Group, the High Court imposed a blanket ban on destruction of mangroves.