Maharashtra Forest Minister Ganesh Naik Orders Swift Removal Of Mangrove Encroachments, Lauds NMMC’s Tech-Driven Surveillance

Navi Mumbai: A high-level meeting was held at Mantralaya on Tuesday under the leadership of Maharashtra’s Forest Minister Shri Ganesh Naik to review encroachments in mangrove zones within the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) jurisdiction.

During the meeting, Minister Naik took stock of the current situation and instructed that all officially recorded encroachments in mangrove areas must be removed promptly. He also emphasized the need for permanent and effective measures to ensure that such areas are not re-encroached after clearance operations.

NMMC Commissioner Dr. Kailas Shinde presented a detailed report on the corporation’s ongoing efforts to clear encroachments and protect mangrove cover using modern technology and satellite surveillance. The Minister appreciated the use of tech-driven solutions and gave key suggestions to strengthen mangrove conservation and enforcement mechanisms.

Also present at the meeting were Additional Commissioner Dr. Rahul Gethe, City Engineer Shirish Aradwad, Town Planning Officer Somnath Kekan, Encroachment Department Officer Kailas Gaikwad, and officials from the State Forest Department.

The meeting marked a significant step toward addressing environmental concerns linked to rapid urban expansion in Navi Mumbai, with a focus on safeguarding ecologically sensitive mangrove ecosystems.