25 June,2019 03:58 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online desk
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Maharashtra state transport minister Diwakar Raote on Monday said that as many as 54,000 mangroves spread over 13.36 hectares will be affected because of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor, commonly called the bullet train project. Raote replied to a question raised by Shiv Sena legislator Maneesha Kayande in the state Legislative Council.
Diwakar Raote said that there will be no chopping of trees and there will no threat of flooding to some parts of Navi Mumbai. He added that the pillars (of the project) will be high and hence will not damage the environment much.
Raote said the Maharashtra state government will plant five plants for each one that will be cut for the multi-billion dollar project. "As per my information, farmers are keen on handing over their land for appropriate remuneration," Raote informed in his written reply. The project which is expected to cost over Rs 1 lakh crore is funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Diwakar Raote in reply to another question raised by Congress MLC Sharad Ranpise, said, "The proposed land acquisition for the bullet train project is 1,379 hectares of which private land in Gujarat is 724.13 hectares is while 270.65 hectares is in Maharashtra. As many as 188 hectares of private land in Palghar district is going to be acquired of which 2.95 hectares have been purchased as per the 'private negotiation' policy of the Maharashtra state government. Around 3,498 people from Palghar will be affected due to the bullet train project. In Thane, 84.81 hectares belonging to 6,589 farmers have been acquired of which 2.95 hectares have been bought as per the private negotiation policy."
Private negotiation is a policy introduced by the Maharashtra state government some years back where it buys out land directly from the owner instead of following the land acquisition procedure which normally takes more time.
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