September 17, 2025: The National Green Tribunal (NGT), Western Zone Bench, has directed the demolition of a promenade constructed by the Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) at Aksa Beach, Mumbai, ruling it a violation of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms.
The case was filed by applicants Zoru Bhathena and Banda Nagraj Kumar, who argued that the “Seafront development and beautification” project amounted to illegal construction on a CRZ-I area, where such activities are prohibited. They alleged that the MMB initially projected the work as a beautification initiative but later rebranded it as an “anti-sea erosion” measure to secure CRZ clearance from the State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA).
According to the applicants, “The entire beach falls within the category of CRZ-I area under the CRZ Notification, 2011. The presence of the beach serves a crucial purpose of acting as a natural barrier protecting the region from flooding during monsoon months.” They highlighted that in July 2022, heavy machinery was used to excavate and level the beach, leading to the construction of a four-metre-wide, 600-metre-long concrete promenade bordered by a cement wall and gabion structures. The petitioners contended that this artificial division of the beach would accelerate erosion and threaten its natural ecosystem.
In response, the MMB defended the project, arguing it was a permissible anti-sea erosion measure under CRZ rules. The board submitted reports from the Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS) and IIT-Bombay, which described Aksa Beach as an eroding site requiring protection for infrastructure such as electric poles.
After reviewing the submissions, the NGT observed that while the anti-sea erosion bund was justified, the promenade was not part of the approved plan. “Promenade is certainly over-stretching the permission by MMB… Therefore, the said promenade shall be removed within two months from the date of uploading of this Judgment,” the tribunal ordered.
Source: The Free Press Journal
