Aaditya Thackeray lauds MVA’s green legacy as Gorai Mangrove park set to be open for public soon

Aaditya Thackeray. File Pic

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and former Maharashtra Environment Minister Aaditya Thackeray on Tuesday expressed satisfaction over the soon-to-be-inaugurated Mangrove Park in Gorai - an ambitious green initiative launched during his tenure in October 2021.

Taking to social media platform X, Thackeray highlighted that the Gorai Mangrove Park is among several eco-projects he initiated while serving as Environment Minister in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. Other notable projects include the "Tree Top Walk" in Malabar Hill and the "Urban Forest" in Marol.

"Happy to see that just like the ‘Tree Top Walk' in Malabar Hill and the ‘Urban Forest' in Marol… this too, something I kickstarted, will open up soon for people," Thackeray wrote, reiterating his enduring commitment to sustainable development in Mumbai.

He also acknowledged the political disruptions that delayed the completion of these projects. "All these projects, due to open by 2023, were delayed after our government was toppled in mid-2022. Delayed, yet, I'm happy to see them being opened to citizens."

In addition to green infrastructure, Thackeray highlighted a significant though lesser-known achievement from his tenure: granting legal protection to vast ecologically sensitive areas. "Always very proud that I had the privilege to accord more than 15,000 hectares the official protection of the Indian Forest Act, in 11 months," he wrote, crediting coordinated efforts with District Collectors and the Forest Department's Mangrove Cell.

The Mangrove Park is expected to open to the public soon. The foundation stone for this landmark project was laid by Aaditya Thackeray during his term as Maharashtra's Tourism and Environment Minister.

Reposting his original 2021 announcement, Thackeray stated, "Mumbai is the only megacity with over 50 km of mangrove coverage. We are committed to its conservation and to raising awareness about this natural wealth. Furthering this goal, we commenced works for the first-ever Mangrove Park in Gorai." He credited the MVA government's vision and support for bringing the project to fruition.

The October 2021 post came during the MVA government's tenure, reflecting its broader goal to showcase and conserve Mumbai's unique and fragile mangrove ecosystem.