Maharashtra starts survey of mangrove forests along coast

Mumbai

Maharashtra Forest Minister Ganesh Naik announced on Friday that a survey of mangrove forests along the state’s coastline, from Gujarat to Goa borders, has started to determine the exact area covered by these crucial green belts.

Naik shared this during the Question Hour in the state assembly while replying to Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Bhaskar Jadhav. He stated that CCTV cameras will be installed in Palghar district to protect mangroves, and officers from the Forest, Revenue, and Home Departments will patrol regularly. Strict legal action will be taken if construction debris from Mumbai is dumped in mangrove areas.

Responding to BJP MLA Sneha Dube Pandit’s concerns about illegal cutting in Vasai and Palghar, Naik revealed that the government will file a review petition in the Supreme Court about mangrove conservation.

Environment Minister Pankaja Munde added that mangroves growing on farmers’ lands along the coast would be protected with their help. The government also plans to provide ‘carbon credits’ to encourage farmers to conserve mangroves.

She assured strict action against encroachers and noted that 19 cases have been registered for mangrove destruction so far. However, Pandit pointed out that no arrests had been made in these cases. She demanded stricter laws, including increasing the jail term from five to seven years and making it harder to get bail.

The state’s Mangrove Cell is already working on conservation and will continue efforts to stop environmental damage along Maharashtra’s coast. The ministers emphasized that protecting mangroves is critical for maintaining environmental balance and safeguarding coastal regions.