The Bombay High Court has issued a directive to the Maharashtra government, compelling swift action to inspect and verify mangrove areas managed by the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) within the next four weeks. This judicial intervention follows a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by environmental NGO Vanashakti in 2021, urging compliance with a previous court order dating back to September 17, 2018.
The 2018 order mandated the Forest Department to assume control of mangrove lands designated as “protected forests” on government-owned properties within 12 weeks of their declaration. While most private and governmental agencies have complied with this directive, CIDCO has yet to transfer approximately 685 hectares of mangrove land to the Forest Department, citing ongoing survey processes.
During the court proceedings, Vanashakti’s legal representative highlighted that all concerned departments, except CIDCO, have fulfilled their obligations under the 2018 order by surrendering mangrove lands. The NGO argued that CIDCO could expedite the survey using modern technologies such as drones, emphasizing the urgency of compliance with environmental protection laws.In response, the government pleader informed the bench about the ongoing survey, estimating it would require around two months to complete. However, the court pressed CIDCO to expedite the process, granting a four-week extension to conduct the survey and submit a detailed report. The bench cautioned that failure to comply could necessitate the presence of senior officials from the Revenue and Forest Department to ensure adherence to the court’s directives.The case has been adjourned until August 5, pending CIDCO’s compliance with the court’s latest directive. As stakeholders await further developments, the outcome of this legal scrutiny will likely influence future environmental policies and administrative practices concerning land management and conservation in Maharashtra.
