MMRDA, Cidco to hand over 519ha of mangroves to state

MUMBAI: Just a day before World Mangroves Day on July 26, the state forest department’s mangrove cell announced the handover of 519 hectares of mangrove land by the City Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco) and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) for declaration as ‘reserve forest’ under the Indian Forest Act, 1927, pursuant to long-pending directions of the Bombay high court (HC). HC in September 2018, responding to public interest litigation (PIL) by Bombay Environment Action Group, had ordered that mangrove lands under various government bodies be transferred to the forest department.

“Cidco has agreed to hand over 219 hectares of mangroves in Panvel and Kamothe, Raigad district, through the collector’s office. The transfer will happen soon. The MMRDA confirmed that it has 300 acres that need to come under protection, mostly in Mumbai suburban district. The specifics of the transfer are being discussed,” said Virendra Tiwari, additional principal chief conservator of forests (APCCF), mangrove cell, speaking at a webinar organised by NGO Natconnect Foundation. A Cidco official said their transfer is likely to happen in next week.

Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation, which comes under state environment minister Aadtiya Thackeray, was first to comply with HC’S directions in April by handing over 466.72 acres of mangroves Manori and Gorai creeks.