June 30, 2025: Located along the Ulhas River Estuary, the Diva-Mumbra region in Maharashtra harbours some of India’s most dense and ecologically vital mangrove forests. These thriving green zones—home to species such as the White Mangrove (Avicennia marina) and Mangrove Apple (Sonneratia alba)—play a crucial role in sustaining biodiversity and safeguarding coastal areas. Yet, despite their importance, they are under severe threat from unchecked urbanisation and rampant illegal land reclamation.
Mangroves are lifelines for numerous species of birds, fish, reptiles, molluscs, and insects. Their loss would disrupt delicate food chains and destroy essential habitats. More critically, mangroves act as natural barriers against coastal erosion, storm surges, and flooding by absorbing wave energy and stabilising sediment.
However, their vulnerability lies in their dependence on intertidal zones—where sea and land meet. Once cleared, mangroves are extremely difficult to restore elsewhere, making conservation in their native habitat imperative.
In Diva-Mumbra, illegal dumping and unauthorised construction are steadily replacing mangrove cover. Local developers exploit these areas for short-term gain, selling homes on reclaimed land to low-income buyers. Ironically, these zones become prone to flooding during monsoons, and the buildings are later deemed unauthorised—leaving residents displaced and exploited.
This is not only an ecological failure but a glaring governance lapse. Development continues unchecked, often disguised as urban progress.
What is urgently required is a comprehensive, science-based, and preventive approach to conservation. Authorities must strictly enforce Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) laws and designated buffer zones. Regular satellite monitoring, backed by physical verification on the ground, is essential to track and halt encroachments. Local communities and citizen groups should be empowered to report environmental violations. Additionally, legal accountability must be established for both developers and officials complicit in environmental crimes. Finally, mangrove conservation must be integrated into urban planning frameworks and disaster risk reduction strategies.
Safeguarding Diva-Mumbra’s mangroves is more than environmental duty—it is a socio-economic and moral obligation. The time for symbolic action is over; what’s needed now is bold, collective and immediate intervention.
Source: The Free Press Journal
