Backlash Forces MoEF&CC to Review Hoardings on Coastal Road
Amid growing concerns from local residents and environmental activists, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has instructed the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) to reassess its approval for the installation of advertisement hoardings along the Coastal Road in South Mumbai. This move follows a wave of opposition from residents and climate advocacy groups, who argue that the approval contravenes environmental regulations.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had received approval from the MCZMA to install hoardings along key stretches of the Coastal Road, including areas near Tata Garden, Amazon Garden, and Lala Lajpatrai Garden. The plan, aimed at generating approximately ₹1 crore per month in revenue, includes conditions such as situating the hoardings on the landward side of the road or on existing structures, with the BMC tasked with ensuring compliance. However, the approval has sparked outrage among residents of affluent South Mumbai localities, such as Breach Candy and Nepean Sea Road. Concerned about the potential environmental impact, they penned an open letter to the Maharashtra Chief Minister and Cabinet Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha, calling for the cancellation of the approval.
The residents also launched an online petition that garnered 925 signatures within a day, with the tagline, “We Don’t Need No Advert Hoardings on Coastal Road..Hey Govt., Leave Us Residents Alone.” Activist Godfrey Pimenta, from the Watchdog Foundation, also voiced his opposition in a letter to the MoEF&CC, claiming that the hoardings approval violated a critical condition imposed on the reclaimed 90-hectare coastal land. According to Pimenta, the condition clearly prohibits the use of the land for any commercial activities, including the installation of advertisement hoardings. He described the approval as a “blatant breach” of these environmental stipulations and called for immediate intervention.
In response, the MoEF&CC has asked the Member Secretary of MCZMA to thoroughly examine the issue and provide a detailed reply to both the complainants and the ministry. The ministry has emphasized that if the grievances are found to be valid, appropriate action must be taken to ensure adherence to environmental guidelines. This latest development highlights the growing tension between urban development goals and environmental conservation efforts in Mumbai, where large-scale infrastructure projects often face scrutiny over their ecological implications. As the review process unfolds, residents and activists remain hopeful that the approval will be revoked, preserving the integrity of Mumbai’s coastal environment.