The BMC’s plea for reclaiming an additional 21 hectares for the coastal road project will be forwarded to the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change for clearance. The civic body’s proposal was approved by the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) with several conditions such as strict compliance with the provisions of the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 2011. In October, the BMC had submitted an application to the MCZMA to amend the 2017 CRZ clearance for the coastal road project seeking to reclaim an additional 6.5 hectares for the actual coastal road and 14.5 hectares for constructing a sea wall and rubble mound structure as protection measures to safeguard the coastal road from erosion from anticipated extreme sea waves and storm surges. Environmentalist Debi Goenka said it was shocking that the MCZMA was granting post-facto clearance when the authority in another case (Guhagar jetty proposal) had pointed out that it had no powers to do so. Goenka said BMC had already started the reclamation work before moving the application for additional reclamation. The BMC, however, pointed out it has CRZ clearance for reclaiming 90 hectares but so far has reclaimed 63.28 hectares. The MCZMA while accepting the BMC’s reasons for additional reclamation directed it to set up a full-fledged environment management cell with a specific budget allocated to implement its Environment Management Plan for the project during the construction and operational phases to ensure that the coastal environment is protected. The cell would be required to monitor the marine biodiversity conservation plan, monitor real-time changes in shoreline, erosion or accretion by appointing agencies like the National Institute of Oceanography, IIT Bombay, and Central Water Power Research Station. Real time data is to be collected for at least 15 years. “It is also suggested to have a third party audit and monitoring of all such management initiatives by a government agency during and after project completion from time to time,” reads the minutes of the meeting. The MCZMA has directed that the fishing community be allowed free access to operate their fishing boats. All recommendations of the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), socioeconomic, disaster management and traffic studies are to be complied with. The BMC has been directed to carry out anti-sea erosion measures along Priyadarshini Park, taking into account the aesthetics of the park and in line with the local geo-morphology. The BMC must ensure access to the seafront at convenient locations, said the MCZMA. Goenka said the MCZMA has not dealt with any of the written submissions made by the various petitioners.