July 21, 2025: Five months after inviting expressions of interest to establish mangrove nurseries, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is set to acquire a 15-acre parcel of land in Borivali’s Eksar. Strategically located near the alignment of the upcoming Versova–Bhayander coastal road, the site is part of a vital environmental offset for the Rs 25,000 crore, 25-kilometre high-speed corridor project, which will enhance north-south connectivity in the city. However, the road’s construction will require the felling of around 9,000 mangrove trees, with a further 51,000 within the impact zone—prompting the need for urgent ecological compensation.
Mangrove ecosystems are crucial for a coastal city like Mumbai. These tidal forests reduce shoreline erosion, absorb tidal surges, and act as natural barriers against floods. Despite their importance, rapid urban expansion and infrastructure development have led to a substantial decline in mangrove density across the city’s eastern and western coastlines.
To address this, the BMC aims to cultivate over one lakh mangrove saplings in the Borivali nursery—well above the number being lost—while accounting for potential mortality. The long-term plan is to raise these saplings into mature trees and replant them in areas facing degradation, or maintain them within the nursery based on ecological needs.
The land, currently privately owned, will be leased to the BMC under a five to ten-year agreement. The site meets stringent criteria, including proximity to intertidal zones for natural water inflow. The Maharashtra Mangrove Cell has given in-principle clearance, with legal formalities now underway. Once finalised, the land will be handed over to the Mangrove Cell or Forest Department to oversee cultivation and transplantation.
The initiative reflects a more scientific and sustainable approach to compensatory afforestation, ensuring urban infrastructure development does not come at the cost of environmental resilience.
Source: Urban Acres
