BMC designates 84-acre plot in Mumbai’s Eksar area for mangrove nursery

In February, the BMC had proposed setting up of mangrove nurseries between Versova and Dahisar for which it floated an Expression of Interest (EoI) for leasing land parcels from private owners for a period of 5-10 years, where such nurseries could be set up. The civic body’s move to create mangrove seeks to compensate for the loss of green cover for the proposed 25km-long high speed corridor between Versova and Dahisar. Proposed at a cost of Rs. 25,000 crore, the high speed corridor project requires 165 hectares of land where a total of 60,000 mangrove trees are present, out of which 9,000 trees will be cut for the purpose of constructing piers and pillars for an elevated road. The remaining 51,000 trees are falling in the influence zone area (IZA), which includes around the periphery of temporary structures that will be constructed, and the shadow of the upcoming bridge.

In response to the EOI, civic officials said the land owner – M/S Dynamic Clubs and Resorts Pvt Ltd – has agreed to provide their land parcel on “leave and license basis” to the BMC for setting up a nursery and restoration centre for mangroves “free of cost and free of encumbrances”. Sprawled over an area of 3.39 lakh sq metres, the site is currently vacant and lies partly under CRZ/NDZ/Natural Areas (NA) as per the Development Plan of 2034. Currently, the land parcel is surrounded by mangroves of the Gorai Creek in the west as well as in the north where the Ganpat Patil Nagar is also located. On the eastern flank of the plot lies a truck terminal.

Currently vacant, officials said this plot will be used for transplanting mangrove trees that will be affected for the project as well as plantation of new saplings.

In a notification issued on Saturday, the BMC has invited suggestions and objections from people and authorities/firms over the course of the next 15 days. “If no claim or objection is received, BMC will complete the procedure to take possession of the land on leave and license basis for setting up mangrove nurseries and restoration centres,” read the notice.

The proposed second phase of the coastal road has been divided into six different packages. Package A will cover 4.5km between Versova and Bangur Nagar (Goregaon), package B will cover 1.66km between Bangur Nagar and Mindspace (Malad). Packages C and D will include twin tunnels (3.9km long), connecting mindspace at Malad with Charkop in Kandivali.

Package E will be 3.78km, connecting Charkop with Gorai and the final package F will be 3.69km that will connect Gorai with Dahisar. From Dahisar, the civic authorities are constructing another 5.6km elevated corridor that will extend till Bhayander in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).

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