GCDA ring road may not get green nod

KOCHI: Though chief minister Oommen Chandy has given the nod to the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) to take up the long-drawn out ring road project, it may fail to get environmental clearance, according to green experts. Even in the case of the elevated road on pillars, the project would require filling of wetland from Marine Drive to Vaduthala.
GCDA had earlier proposed to construct a 36 metre-wide ring road by filling 600 acres of wetland. However, as the Kerala Coastal Zone Management Authority turned down the proposal, the project was redesigned as an elevated structure to avoid reclamation.
It was in June 2012 that the State government has given an in principle nod to the project. The ring road starting from Marine Drive will be a major traffic corridor which will pass through coastal areas and cross NH 17, the Container road, the NH 47, Sea Port Airport Road and finally meet NH 47 at Kumbalam.
Dr. V.S. Vijayan, member of the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) and former chairman of the Kerala Biodiversity Board told DC that reclamation of 600 acres of backwaters would cause irreparable damage to the eco system. “No project which requires filling of wetland should be allowed. In financial terms, one hectare of wetland provides indirect benefits worth '1.8 cr per year. Hence, if 600 acres of backwaters is reclaimed, it will result in a loss of more than '300 cr per year,” he said.
According to studies, there was a considerable drop in wetland area in the state during the short period from 2004 to 2011. The state has already lost 88 per cent of wetland. In 2004, the total wetland area was 7, 66,076 hectares and it shrank to 1, 60,590 hectares by 2011.
Meanwhile, GCDA chairman N. Venugopal said that the project would not have environmental impact as no backwater reclamation is involved. “The 5 km-long first phase with 18 metre width will be constructed at an estimated cost of '450 cr.The Chief minister has asked for the preparation of a detailed project report and it will be submitted later to the Union government seeking funding possibilities,” he said.