EAC defers clearance to Vadhavan-Samruddhi link road over Vaitarna dam safety
UPSC / SSC current affairs note · IR
Why in news
The Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change has deferred clearance for the proposed Tawa-Bharvir road, which would connect the Samruddhi Expressway to the Vadhavan port. The decision was made due to concerns that the road's alignment poses risks to the safety of the Vaitarna dam, a key water source for Mumbai. This highlights the conflict between infrastructure development and environmental safety.
Background
The Vaitarna dam supplies water to Mumbai. The proposed road is part of a larger project to improve connectivity to the under-construction Vadhavan port. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is already building an expressway from Vadhavan port to Tawa on NH-48, and the Tawa-Bharvir road would extend this to the Samruddhi Expressway.
Key facts
The EAC deferred clearance to the Tawa-Bharvir road project in a meeting held on July 15-16, 2026.
The current alignment of the road lies very close to the Vaitarna dam, which supplies water to Mumbai.
The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) is executing the project.
The EAC has formed a sub-committee to visit the site and suggest changes to the alignment.
Approximately 212.16 hectares of forest land is likely to be affected by the project.
The route passes through eight villages in the Eco-Sensitive Area (ESA) of the Western Ghats, including five in the Dahanu ESA.
The Dahanu ESA was notified on June 20, 1991.
The proposed road is 106.07 km long.
The EAC recommended site inspection before granting terms of reference for the project.
MSRDC MD Anil Gaikwad said concerns were raised based on online maps.
Prelims pointers
- EAC: Expert Appraisal Committee under MoEFCC
- MoEFCC: Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change
- MSRDC: Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation
- NHAI: National Highways Authority of India
- Vadhavan port: under-construction port in Maharashtra
- Samruddhi Expressway: Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway
- Western Ghats: biodiversity hotspot, ESA notification
- Dahanu Eco-Sensitive Area: notified in 1991
- Vaitarna dam: water source for Mumbai
Mains angles
- GS3: Infrastructure development vs environmental conservation - discuss the need for sustainable infrastructure.
- GS2: Role of regulatory bodies like EAC in environmental governance.
- GS3: Disaster management - dam safety concerns and risk assessment.
- GS3: Environmental impact assessment (EIA) process and its effectiveness.