Mumbai: Mumbaikars have urged the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to stop the destruction of 9,000 mangroes for the Versova-Dahisar Coastal Road project at Manori Creek. The residents have said that the proposal to compensate the loss of mangroves by planting land trees in Chandrapur is not ecologically equivalent.
BMC’s notice to extend the coastal road from Versova to Dahisar has sparked concerns among environmentalists and green activists. The residents of Charkop Sector 8 as well as fishing community also objected to the project at a meeting held by MLA Sanjay Upadhyay in Kandivali West on Thursday. The 20 km road to be built at an estimated cost of Rs. 16,621 crore, will divert 104 hectares of forest land, impacting 60,000 mangrove trees, with 9,000 slated for removal.
However, common citizens have objected to the cutting of mangroves at Charkop, Gorai, and Dahisar due to the proposed extension of the coastal road and demanded to halt the project immediately. In a letter written by the “Concerned Citizens Of Mumbai” on Sunday to the civic body, Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority and MLA Upadhyay.
The letter demanded that the Versova-Dahisar Coastal Road Project must be cancelled, as it would cause irreparable damage to the sensitive wetland ecosystems, increasing the risk of flooding to the people living in those areas.
It suggested that instead of promoting more vehicular traffic through new roads, resources should be invested in exploring non-destructive transport solutions by improving existing metro, local trains and bus connectivity. It also demanded prioritising climate resilience and coastal protection over infrastructure that benefits only a fraction of citizens.
The letter raised concerns for Manori creek l, which is one of the largest and most vulnerable tidal creeks in Asia. It alleged that the decision puts at risk not just a vital ecological habitat, but also the flood protection, carbon sequestration, and climate resilience of the entire western suburbs of Mumbai.
It said that the proposal to compensate the loss by 9000 mangroves by planting land trees in Chandrapur near the Tadoba Tiger Reserve, is neither viable nor ecologically equivalent. It also alleged that the suggestion to plant mangroves in Bhayander ignores the urgent need for local flood defenses for Charkop residents.
“The 136 hectares of mangroves in Charkop have protected the area from floods for years. Removing them will leave the region dangerously exposed to high tides, storm surges, and increased flood risk, especially under a rapidly changing climate. Moreover, the stated rationale for the road project that it will include a bus lane to promote public transport is both ironic and flawed. Our demand is for inland bus lanes, improved sea transport and better support for the new metro lines that already serve these neighborhoods,” read the letter.
