July 5, 2025: The Borivli-Thane twin tunnel project requires a 22.6-acre casting yard; however, five acres of this area are situated within the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) of Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) adjacent to Mira Road, which has sparked controversy. Casting yards are critical for infrastructure projects, used to fabricate components like segments and beams, and are typically positioned close to the work site for logistical ease.
The project, being undertaken by MMRDA and its contractor Megha Engineering & Infrastructure Ltd., has come under fire from environmentalists and local activists. Stalin D of NGO Vanashakti emphasized that ESZ regulations prohibit polluting industries in such zones. “Any action that violates it will be challenged in the courts. The agencies involved cannot pretend to be ignorant of the law, and they cannot create third-party rights in the ESZ,” he said, adding that both the forest department and the Mira-Bhayander Municipal Corporation must uphold the law. “The region inside the ESZ is being rapidly degraded to facilitate construction projects. This is part of a larger conspiracy to destroy the natural landscape virtually inside the national park,” he warned.
Local activist Uttam Naik, representing the People’s Republican Party, highlighted that tribal lands may be part of the casting yard site. “Big machinery will only harm the surrounding environment and increase pollution,” he stated in a letter to the revenue department.
The National Green Tribunal recently ordered the shutdown of two similar facilities within the ESZ in Thane. Despite protests, MMRDA has yet to respond publicly to the concerns.
Source: The Times of India
