Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Faithfully follow the directions of the Bombay High Court for filing annual audit report on the status of afforestation, which is to be done before or simultaneously with the 10 year period.Refusing to entertain the appeal against the HC’s December 12 order allowing the project, a bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi said there was no doubt about the public benefit of the project, which would reduce congestion on the Western Express Highway.“The construction of this road is of great importance for the residents of Mumbai. We cannot stop every developmental project, however, it is equally important that the environment and conservation mechanisms are not compromised,” the bench said.Appearing for NGO Vanashakti, senior advocate CU Singh said, “The impugned decision allows diversion of 103.7 hectares of forest land comprising 45,675 mangroves in Malad Creek without any assessment of the environmental and ecological damage caused.”The Supreme Court bench said, “No mangroves should be removed unless public interest is paramount. There is no dispute that the coastal road project connecting Versova and Bhayandar is of utmost public importance.”Solicitor General Tushar Mehta assured the Supreme Court that to ensure the growth and health of the compensatory afforestation being done near the Tadoba Reserve Forest and the relocation of mangroves and plantations to a location 10 km away from the project site, annual audit reports will be filed for the next 10 years, as per the High Court’s direction.The CJI-led bench said that the annual report will give complete details of non-forest land used for afforestation. “In view of the safeguards included in the Bombay HC order, we see no reason to entertain the appeal,” it said.Explaining the beneficial effects of mangroves, which according to Vanashakti are highly effective in combating pollution and high tides, CU Singh said the approval given to the project by the High Court will allow the proponents to cut down the mangroves even before the Phase-II environment impact assessment and forest clearance.Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said that along with the project work, compensatory afforestation has already been done on 31 hectares of land.Solicitor General Mehta said the High Court has put strict conditions on the BMC to ensure adequate compensatory afforestation, their growth and survival for at least 10 years.