Environmentalist Stalin D of Vanashakti has issued a legal notice to the BMC and Mangrove Cell, alleging illegal mangrove cutting and lack of mandatory forest clearances for the Versova–Bhayandar Coastal Road project, in violation of court orders
Stalin D alleged that about a kilometre-long road has already been made. PICS/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Environmentalist Stalin D from NGO Vanashakti has issued a legal notice to the Mangrove Cell and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) over permissions granted for mangrove cutting for the Versova-Bhayandar Coastal Road project. The project work, he claims, was allowed despite the absence of mandatory clearances.
Stalin D issued a legal notice on February 3, claiming the sanction violates Section 2 of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, and the Bombay High Court order dated December 12, 2025. Stalin D has sent the email to the Principal Secretary Forest, Mangrove Cell, Principal Secretary of the Environment Department, municipal commissioner, and Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, requesting work be stopped and issues with the mitigation measures be rectified.
The activist alleged work is being done without necessary permissions
“All of you are parties to the permissions and work undertaken for the coastal road project. There are news reports that state permission for tree felling has been given. We wish to inform you about the irregularities/illegalities,” read Stalin D’s notice.
He alleged that work within mangrove areas has progressed substantially on the ground. “I visited the site at Malad Creek in Malwani and was shocked to see a kilometre-long road already made. This work cannot and could not have been done after the order of the Bombay High Court passed in December. It is very evident that the court orders were taken for granted and work undertaken without permissions,” said Stalin D.
Further, he alleged that Phase 2 permissions for the project have not been obtained to date. “Even if one were to consider the fact that an exception has been made for a linear project, work of construction cannot commence without the final clearance. Why was the high court not informed that the project lacked necessary clearances and also fulfilment of the conditions under the Forest Conservation Act while seeking permission from the court? Further, the conditions for linear projects also mention that land admeasuring three times the size of the land being diverted for the project must be afforested and transferred in the name of the forest department and given ‘reserve forests’ status,” Stalin D said.
The dug-up area near Malad Creek at Malvani
According to Stalin D, the land being shown as compensation happens to be in Survey No. 342 in Vihirgaon near Tadoba in Chandrapur district. In his email to authorities, he also attached the 7x12 extract of the site and alleged that the said land is already in the forest department’s name, earmarked for firewood and grazing. “How will the saplings survive, and how will the trees on the land be protected? Isn’t this an abuse of the process of law?” he questioned.
The other site in Bhayandar, where one lakh saplings are to be planted, also bears Survey No. 342. “The site at Bhayandar has been afforested by the Mangrove cell in 2022. Satellite imagery confirms this. There is hardly any space left for plantation. Further, land records show the site is jointly owned by the salt department, state forest department, and the Mira-Bhayander Municipal Corporation (MBMC).
Areas under MBMC seem to be marshes/inter-tidal mudflats next to the creek. This area is available for plantation, but the land is also sought by MBMC to develop a of a waterfront. How will mangroves be protected? The mitigation steps are an eyewash,” Stalin D said.
Points raised by Stalin D
Stalin D, environmentalist
>> Mangroves are coastal forests; how does their ecosystem get compensated for by planting trees in Chandrapur in mountainous regions?
>> Is there no land available along the Mumbai or Mumbai Metropolitan Region coast that can compensate for the loss of the coastal forests?
>> Why is there such a lack of application of mind and scientific approach in the process of undertaking these projects?
>> Please share details of the land parcels surveyed along the Mumbai shoreline before a decision was taken to move to Palghar and Chandrapur
‘Making false claims’
“The forest department claims work at Malwani is only for a sewage treatment plant, but the photographs from the site clearly suggest otherwise. In any case, the forest department could not have given any approval for cutting mangroves without Stage-II clearance. The BMC alone is responsible for the loss of nearly 1.6 lakh mangroves, and the pace at which mangroves are being destroyed, Mumbai should be worried that little will be left of its coastal forests,” said Stalin D.
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