logo
To compensate loss of green cover, BMC to acquire 15-acre plot in Borivali for creating mangrove nurseries

To compensate loss of green cover, BMC to acquire 15-acre plot in Borivali for creating mangrove nurseries

Indian Express20-07-2025
Five months after floating an expression of interest for leasing land parcels to grow mangrove nurseries on them, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is set to acquire a 15-acre plot at Borivali's Eksar. The land will be adjoining the alignment of the new coastal road connecting Versova in Mumbai's western suburbs with Bhayander in north Mumbai, officials said.
The civic body's move is set to compensate for the loss of green cover for the proposed 25-km-long high-speed corridor set to be built at a cost of Rs 25,000 crore. The project will require 165 hectares of land where 60,000 mangrove trees are present. Out of them, 9,000 trees will be cut for the purpose of constructing piers and pillars for an elevated road. The remaining 51,000 trees fall in the influence zone area, areas around the periphery of temporary structures that will be constructed and the shadow of the upcoming bridge.
For a coastal city like Mumbai, mangrove forests are vital ecosystems that act as natural buffers from coastal erosion, tidal flooding, storm surges, protecting shorelines and communities. The dense root systems stabilise sediments and reduce the impact of waves and current. The eastern and western shoreline of Mumbai has significant mangrove patches that are identified as mangrove zones.
However, with increased encroachment and infrastructure development, these patches have also recorded a reduction in its density in the past few decades.
Civic officials said the primary idea behind leasing the land parcels is to plant mangrove saplings, which will grow up to full grown mangroves within the period of a few years. After that, the grown mangroves could be transplanted in areas where there might have been a shortfall or may be allowed to grow on these nurseries depending on the nature of requirement.
In February, the BMC floated an expression of interest asking private owners to lease out land for setting up land parcels. Civic officials have said the plot that has been shortlisted is privately owned and will be handed over to the BMC on lease and a licence agreement for 5-10 years. This plot will be used for transplanting mangrove trees that will be affected for the project as well as for the plantation of new saplings.
'We have checked the suitability. One of the key aspects that one needs to keep in mind while selecting lands for these kinds of purposes is to ensure that the land is accessible and it shouldn't be either fully landlocked nor it should be in isolation. The land parcel also needs to be located in an intertidal zone so that it allows an inflow of water,' a senior official privy to this matter told The Indian Express.
The official also maintained that the BMC is on the lookout for more similar land parcels to set up mangrove nurseries on them.
Govt's in-principle clearance
The official said the Maharashtra government's mangrove cell had given in-principle clearance for this project. At present, the civic authorities are carrying out deed verification of this project along with the legal aspects of the project. The officials maintained that in the next one month the agreement will be finalised.
'After we get the land, it will be handed over to the Mangrove cell or forest department, since they are the experts in this field. We have a plan to do a sapling plantation for more than one lakh mangroves, since the plot is very bad. The number of trees and seedlings that will be planted and transplanted will be much more than the affected number of trees because we will have to ensure that the loss of green cover is compensated and also to keep the mortality rates in check,' the official said.
On April 7, the civic authorities invited suggestions and objections from citizens after issuing a public notice stating that 9,000 mangrove trees will be cut for the coastal road project.
The proposed second phase of the coastal road has been divided into six different packages. Package A will cover 4.5 km between Versova and Bangur Nagar (Goregaon), package B will cover 1.66 km between Bangur Nagar and Mindspace (Malad). The packages C and D will include twin tunnels – 3.9 km long – connecting mindspace at Malad with Charkop in Kandivali. Package E will be 3.78 km long, connecting Charkop with Gorai.
The final package F will be 3.69 km long and connect Gorai with Dahisar. From Dahisar, the civic authorities are constructing a 5.6 km elevated corridor till Bhayander in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
Phase two of the coastal road will be a series of underground tunnels, cable-stayed bridge and vehicular interchanges that will improve north-south connectivity. The coastal road will also provide connectivity with Goregaon-Mulund Link Road, an east-west connector that is also being constructed by the Mumbai civic body.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

BMC to speed up drain, road works on city stretch after prod by citizen reporters
BMC to speed up drain, road works on city stretch after prod by citizen reporters

Time of India

time38 minutes ago

  • Time of India

BMC to speed up drain, road works on city stretch after prod by citizen reporters

1 2 Bhubaneswar: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to expedite drain and road construction on the stretch between Mangala Mandir Square and an apartment in Nayapalli's Behera Sahi area after citizen reporters flagged concerns about its poor condition. Citizens had expressed concerns about piled-up soil, protruding iron rods and concrete plates occupying the carriageway, with rains making the situation worse for commuters. "During the peak of the monsoon season, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation is undertaking road and drain construction, leading to significant construction debris and obstructions on the roads. The digging and accumulation of soil are making the roads slippery, especially with the rainfall. If urgent measures are not implemented, it could result in accidents," wrote Bisworanjan Dash on TOI's Citizen Reporter app. As construction is going on, the around 500-metre stretch with remnants of removed drain covers and stagnant water along the under-construction road has turned into a safety hazard for pedestrians and commuters. Highlighting the problem, citizen reporter Rudra Narayan Jena from Chadrasekharpur, wrote, "The numerous drain construction projects currently underway in Bhubaneswar have significantly disrupted daily life. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Libas Purple Days Sale Libas Undo Roads have been excavated, and the resulting clay makes them dangerously slippery. It seems the BMC could have planned these projects more effectively. Ideally, they should have been completed before the peak rainy season or scheduled to start after the rains. " Behera Sahi spans from Gate 1 of Kalinga Stadium on one side to the Iskcon Temple on the other. In between, the internal roads either are pothole-filled, narrow or construction has been going on for a long time. Mayor Sulochana Das said she has instructed the works department to expedite the construction. "I know the ongoing work is causing a little inconvenience. I told the officer concerned to fix it. There were several issues, including encroachment, which delayed road work on the stretch. Unless the drain work is finished, the road can't be constructed. So, it got delayed. But people will be relieved as measures will be taken to resolve the issues," Das told TOI.

Water storage in Isarda dam from July 30
Water storage in Isarda dam from July 30

Time of India

timean hour ago

  • Time of India

Water storage in Isarda dam from July 30

Bhilwara: With construction of the Isarda dam project on the Banas River nearing completion, the irrigation department has issued orders for starting water storage from July 30. As per the initial plan, preparations are on to have the dam filled up to 3.27 TMC (thousand million cubic feet) out of its 10.77 TMC capacity. Constructed at a cost of Rs 615 crore, Isarda dam will supply water to seven towns and 1,256 villages in Dausa and Sawai Madhopur districts. It is the second largest in Tonk district after Bisalpur, which has a capacity of 38.800 TMC. Strategically positioned between Banetha and Isarda villages on the Tonk-Sawai Madhopur border, the dam features a 600-metre concrete structure with 28 gates. Water levels can reach a height of 262 RL metres, addressing the water needs of the region. Despite multiple deadline extensions, the dam is now completed nearly 95%. Keeping the monsoon rains in view, the Water Resources Department has ordered that from July 30, water will be stored in phases in the Isarda dam until Sept 15, marking a significant milestone for the project. Executive engineer of the Isarda Dam Project, Vikas Garg, told TOI, "Now, water is released daily from two gates of the Bisalpur Dam into the Banas River. The irrigation department in Jaipur has issued orders to stop water in the Isarda dam in phases until Sept 15. For the first time, water will be retained in the dam starting July 30, and we are fully prepared to do so." The dam is a critical part of the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP), with plans to channel water from Isarda to the Ramgarh dam.

H'bag man builds temple in wife's memory
H'bag man builds temple in wife's memory

Time of India

time3 hours ago

  • Time of India

H'bag man builds temple in wife's memory

Hazaribag: A man from Khambhwa village of Tatijharia in Hazaribag district is constructing a temple in memory of his late wife Satyabhama Devi, who died in 2023. Talking about his wife, the man identified as Bhola Sharma, a 65-year-old retired teacher, said, "A woman considers her husband as God and so the husband should also see and treat her in the same manner. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now She was one of my strongest pillars of my life in any circumstance I was in. Hence, it is my duty and responsibility to keep her memory alive by building a temple." Sharma also said he has spent over Rs 10 lakh of his retirement money on the construction of the structure. "The work is almost over now and only the painting work is pending," he said, adding that his son, Shivkumar Sharma, and grandson, Neelmani Pandey, helped him with the work. The retired teacher also said the temple would not have any statue of his wife. "My wife was a devotee of 'Gram Devi', or the local deity revered as the local guardian of the area. We will put an idol of the 'Gram Devi'. My wife used to talk about constructing a Gram Devi temple in the village, but she died with her dream unfulfilled. Now, this temple in her memory will be a fulfilment of her desire," he said, adding that the temple will have a plaque containing her name.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store