The Centre has said there is no proposal received from Maharashtra Government regarding construction of a cable-stayed bridge on the Manori-Marve creek.
“It is informed that no such proposal has been received from Maharashtra Government for CRZ clearance,” Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh told senior BJP leader Ram Naik in a letter.
The reply was to a letter by the former Petroleum Minister, objecting to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority’s (MMRDA) plan to build a cable-stayed bridge on the Manori-Marve creek.
Ram Naik accused the authority of coming up with the proposal at the behest of certain builders.
“The proposed bridge would harm the environment and natural beauty of coastal villages like Manori, Gorai, and Uttan,” he said adding “It would also endanger the livelihood of local fishermen and farmers. We therefore oppose it.”
Mr. Naik said the state government must explain why the bridge was being proposed though none of the local residents had asked for it.
“The MMRDA claims that the bridge will reduce traffic congestion on the Western Express Highway and Swami Vivekanand Road,” he said.
“I wonder how it will happen. Probably the government does not know that now the third link road is also being used for the same traffic,” he said.
