The Mumbai Port Authority (MbPA) has proposed reclaiming 4.14 hectares of sea at Jawahar Dweep, also known as Butcher Island, to build additional crude oil storage facilities. The proposal, which will be placed before the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority for clearance, aims to improve turnaround times for ships handling petroleum and chemical cargo.

Officials argue that the move is essential, as liquid petroleum and chemicals account for nearly 70 per cent of the port’s cargo. Currently, oil unloaded at Mumbai Port is piped to refineries in Mahul, but limited storage capacity has been slowing operations. The first phase of reclamation will require about three lakh cubic metres of soil, which officials said would be sourced from excavated material from the Mumbai coastal road tunnel project.

The cost of reclamation is estimated at Rs 25 crore, with the facility expected to be ready in two years. Officials said the project would enhance efficiency and strengthen Mumbai Port’s standing as India’s largest bulk cargo port, which already handles 8.61 per cent of the nation’s seaborne trade.

However, environmental groups have opposed the move. Activist D Stalin of NGO Vanshakti said, “Instead of reclaiming the sea, MbPA should use its vast tracts of unused land. These actions will increase the pressure on Mumbai’s shoreline and heighten the risk of flooding.”

Despite these concerns, MbPA maintains that the expansion is crucial to meet the growing demands of oil PSUs like BPCL and HPCL, which rely heavily on Jawahar Dweep for crude imports.