The Bombay High Court on Thursday issued a stern directive to six district administrations in the Konkan region, ordering the transfer of 10,000 hectares of identified mangrove land to the Maharashtra Forest Department within two months. The move comes after years of delays in implementing a 2018 court order aimed at preserving the state’s ecologically vital mangrove ecosystems. The HC also laid down a detailed timeline for identifying, measuring, and transferring the remaining mangrove land across the region.
The order, passed by a division bench of Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Sandesh Patil, arose from a contempt petition filed in 2018 by Mumbai-based NGO Vanshakti. The petition highlighted that despite clear directives, several district administrations had failed to transfer substantial portions of mangrove land to the forest department’s mangrove cell, a prerequisite for declaring these areas protected under environmental regulations. Officials from the six districts — Mumbai City, Mumbai Suburban, Thane, Palghar, Raigad, and Sindhudurg — requested an extension of six months, citing administrative challenges. These included overlapping jurisdiction with state agencies such as the City and Industrial Development Corporation and Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority, as well as central government authorities like the Salt Commissioner and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority. However, the court noted that mangrove identification maps prepared by the Maharashtra Remote Sensing Application Centre (MRSAC) nearly two decades ago had still not been fully utilised, and compliance with the 2018 order remained incomplete.
The court emphasised the ecological and societal importance of mangroves, which act as natural buffers against coastal erosion, mitigate the impact of rising sea levels, and serve as carbon sinks critical for sustainable urban development. “Even if we consider the 2018 judgment, there is a seven-year delay. Non-compliance over such a long period indicates systemic issues,” the bench observed. The judges warned that any newly identified mangrove land must be promptly handed over to the mangrove cell and mandated that the forest department update its web portal with information on land received and ongoing conservation measures. Vanshakti’s petition highlighted that while 4,000 hectares had been transferred following the 2018 order, more than 10,000 hectares remained untransferred. Certain plots, mapped in 2005 by MRSAC, have reportedly been destroyed or degraded due to inaction. The NGO urged the authorities to declare these areas as suitable for mangrove cultivation and take immediate restoration measures.
The court’s directive marks a decisive step towards enforcing environmental accountability and ensuring that urban expansion and infrastructure development in the Konkan region do not come at the expense of critical ecosystems. By setting firm timelines, the HC aims to safeguard mangroves as a central pillar of Mumbai’s sustainable and equitable urban future.
Bombay HC Orders Collectors Transfer 10000 Hectares Mangrove Land Quickly
