The trust is objecting to felling of mangrove trees, sans green nod, to pave way for Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project.
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The HC asked the National High Speed Rail Corporation (NHSRCL) to file its response to the NGO’s claims and posted the matter to Friday.
Removal of mangroves will have an adverse impact on Thane Creek Flamingo sanctuary, the CAT said, while asking the HC to ensure due compliance by the corporation.
The corporation has moved the HC for permission to cut 21,997 mangroves in Thane, Mumbai, and Palghar districts to make way for the project.
Its lawyers said the number of trees to be removed was reduced by more than half from the original target of 53,467.
A division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Girish S Kulkarni was hearing plea by the NHSRCL when the NGO, on Monday, raised objections and said the corporation cannot use explosives for construction in the prohibited area.
It said any relaxation ought not to be granted and questioned the lack of any study on survival rate of saplings to be planted as a compensatory measure.
The CAT also said the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report for cutting mangrove trees was not provided.
Its other question was for permissions to be shown from National Board for Wildlife as the bullet train route would go through the reserved forest area and no prior clearances were taken under the Forest Conservation Act.
