Maharashtra govt considers granting carbon credits to farmers who conserve mangroves: Munde

The matter was raised by MLA Sneha Dubey, who flagged concerns about encroachments on mangrove land in Palghar district. MLAs Manisha Chaudhari, Sanjay Kelkar, and Rajendra Gavit also participated in the discussion.

Replying to the question, Munde said strict legal action would be taken against those encroaching on mangrove forests.

She informed the House that a dedicated ‘Mangrove Cell’ under the Forest Department is currently working on the conservation and protection of mangroves across the state.

“Action will be initiated against those contributing to ecological imbalance by damaging mangrove ecosystems along the coast. As many as 19 cases have already been registered in this regard,” Munde added.

In response to a separate question, Forest Minister Ganesh Naik said mangrove forests are spread across the entire coastline of Maharashtra — from the Gujarat border in the north to the Goa border in the south. A survey is underway by the forest department to determine the exact mangrove cover in the state, he informed.

The question was raised by MLA Bhaskar Jadhav.

Naik said that instructions have been issued to install CCTV cameras for mangrove protection in Palghar district. Additionally, joint patrolling by officials from the Forest, Revenue, and Home departments has been suggested.

“Strict action will be taken if debris is found dumped in mangrove areas, including in Mumbai,” he said.

Naik also informed the Assembly that the government intends to file a review petition in the Supreme Court regarding its earlier judgment related to mangrove conservation.