Mumbai's lost mangrove zones to be reestablished in Malad

The Mangrove Foundation, the Mahatma Phule Renewable Energy and Infrastructure Technology Limited (MahaPREIT) and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will carry out a rejuvenation project to reestablish the lost mangrove zone in P ward in Malad.

Officials said that the belt has vanished after remaining buried for decades under the debris dumps by encroachers.

Additional principal chief conservator of the forest, Mangrove Cell, Virendra Tiwari, said that a survey is being conducted of the debris dumps across the mangrove belts with the help of the Environmental Research and Action Foundation (ERAF) NGO. The first three rounds of the survey showed that 98% of the dump could not be recycled. Moreover, NGO will inspect the 13 debris dumps across the mangrove zones.

He said it would help Mahapreit and the state agencies to find how many mangrove areas are affected and can be reestablished and replanted.

Tiwari said that MahaPREIT and an NGO earlier signed an agreement. The project will begin after identifying the types of debris, locations to remove them and reclaim the original land. The 13 debris dumps will be brought under the project in a phased manner.

ERAF prioritised conserving the mangrove zones due to the climate change conditions across the country and the rise of seawater levels.

Chief Managing Director of MahaPREIT, Bipin Shrimali, announced that similar projects would be implemented in Ratnagiri and Palghar.

The debris removal issue has been pending since 2005. The forest department was regularly taking up the matter due to illegal dumping at mangrove zones. The court has directed BMC to remove the debris.

Under the project, chowkies will be built around the mangrove zones to keep a watch on the zones. The forest department and their guards will work from these chowkies. They can immediately penalise those who are involved in illegal dumping.

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