HomeLatestMumbai Officials Inspect Mannat Over CRZ Concerns

Mumbai Officials Inspect Mannat Over CRZ Concerns

Mumbai’s forest department, in coordination with municipal authorities, has launched a preliminary inquiry into a proposed vertical expansion at a prominent sea-facing property in Bandra West, following a complaint over possible violations of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms. The site in question includes an annexe structure adjacent to a heritage bungalow, located on prime coastal land in one of the city’s most sensitive ecological zones.

The inspection was conducted on Friday by a joint team of officials from the forest department and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s H-West ward. This followed a formal complaint submitted by a local activist, raising objections to proposed construction plans that seek to add two additional storeys to the existing six-floor structure. The property lies within a designated CRZ area and also includes a colonial-era heritage structure dating back to 1914.

Officials stated that no unauthorised construction had commenced at the site as of now. However, the owners have been asked to furnish all necessary documentation, including prior clearances and the current development proposal. A forest officer associated with the inspection said that the matter would proceed to the next stage only after the verification of records submitted by the property owners.The annexe in question currently comprises six floors above ground, along with two basement levels, and serves as the main residence on the estate. Positioned along the Arabian Sea, the total area under ownership spans more than 2,000 square metres, making it one of the most valuable private plots in the city’s western waterfront corridor.

Official records show that the application to add two additional floors was submitted to the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) in November 2023, with a stated project cost of ₹25 crore. The property’s proximity to the high tide line and its location within the CRZ-II zone places it under strict environmental oversight. Additionally, the original bungalow, categorised as a Grade III heritage structure, adds another layer of regulatory complexity to the project.The complaint lodged by the activist has flagged concerns regarding the environmental sensitivity of the site and its location near the hazard line as demarcated by the Survey of India. The letter also referenced the protected heritage status of the adjacent building, indicating that any structural expansion must be evaluated not just through the environmental lens, but also from the perspective of heritage conservation.

Experts in urban planning and environment governance point out that high-value coastal real estate developments in Mumbai must navigate a complicated matrix of permissions involving heritage, municipal, and environmental regulations. In this case, the proposal’s compliance with the CRZ Notification 2019, heritage guidelines, and applicable building regulations will be under scrutiny as part of the inquiry process.The forest department has confirmed that it will complete a detailed report based on documentation submitted by the owners and forward its findings to the relevant authorities, including the MCZMA. While no conclusive finding has yet been reached, officials have stated that the case is being handled with due diligence, given the strategic location and regulatory sensitivities involved.

As Mumbai’s coastline continues to see growing pressure from real estate development, the outcome of this inquiry may serve as a precedent for future enforcement of CRZ norms in heritage and high-value zones.

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Mumbai Officials Inspect Mannat Over CRZ Concerns
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