Mumbai to Acquire Borivali Land for 15 Acre Mangrove Nursery Project
Five months after initiating an expression of interest for land to establish mangrove nurseries, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is set to acquire a 15-acre plot in Borivali’s Eksar. This strategic acquisition, positioned adjacent to the forthcoming Versova-Bhayander coastal road alignment, is a critical move to compensate for the significant loss of green cover anticipated from the ambitious ₹25,000 crore, 25-kilometre high-speed corridor. The project, vital for enhancing Mumbai’s north-south connectivity, necessitates the felling of approximately 9,000 mangrove trees, with another 51,000 falling within the construction’s influence zone.
This compensatory initiative underscores a growing imperative for integrating ecological preservation into large-scale urban development projects. For a dynamic coastal metropolis like Mumbai, mangrove forests are indispensable ecosystems. These dense natural barriers are crucial for protecting shorelines from erosion, mitigating the impacts of tidal flooding and storm surges, and safeguarding communities from environmental vagaries. Their intricate root systems stabilise sediments and significantly reduce the force of waves and currents. While Mumbai’s eastern and western coastlines boast substantial mangrove patches, decades of unchecked encroachment and rapid infrastructure development have led to a discernible reduction in their density, highlighting the urgent need for robust conservation strategies.
Civic officials have confirmed that the primary objective behind acquiring and leasing these land parcels is to cultivate mangrove saplings into mature trees within a few years. These fully grown mangroves can then be transplanted to areas experiencing shortfalls or maintained in the nurseries, depending on ecological requirements. The selection criteria for such plots are stringent, demanding accessibility, non-isolation, and crucially, an intertidal zone location to ensure natural water inflow. This scientific approach to compensatory afforestation reflects a commitment to not merely replacing numbers but fostering viable, self-sustaining ecosystems.
In February, the BMC invited private landowners to lease out suitable plots, leading to the selection of this privately owned Borivali site. The land will be secured under a 5-10 year lease and licence agreement, ensuring the civic body has sufficient time for the cultivation and potential transplantation of mangroves. The Maharashtra government’s Mangrove Cell has already granted in-principle clearance for this compensatory project, with BMC officials currently finalising legal and deed verification processes. Once acquired, the plot will be entrusted to the Mangrove Cell or the Forest Department, recognising their specialised expertise in ecological restoration.
The civic body’s ambitious plan includes planting over one lakh mangrove saplings in the Borivali nursery alone, significantly exceeding the number of trees directly impacted by the coastal road project. This aggressive compensatory afforestation strategy aims to not only offset the environmental loss but also to account for potential mortality rates among the new saplings, ensuring a net positive impact on Mumbai’s green cover. The project, involving underground tunnels, cable-stayed bridges, and vehicular interchanges across six packages, aims to drastically reduce travel times and improve connectivity, including integration with the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road. The BMC’s proactive steps in mangrove conservation signal a critical shift towards sustainable infrastructure development, balancing urban expansion with environmental stewardship for a healthier, more resilient, and eco-conscious Mumbai.
