The Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) has directed authorities to investigate construction activity at Gorai Beach after concerns were raised about possible violations of coastal regulations.
The authority has instructed the administration of the Mumbai Suburban district to conduct a site inspection and submit a factual report within seven days detailing the nature of the construction and whether it complies with the conditions granted for the project. A communication from the state’s Environment and Climate Change Department at Mantralaya was addressed to the District Collector of Mumbai Suburban, who also heads the District Coastal Zone Management Committee. Officials have been directed to verify details of the work and determine if it violates provisions under the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) framework.
The order follows a complaint filed by environmentalist Stalin Dayanand of the NGO Vanashakti. The complaint alleged that a jetty had been constructed along the Gorai coastline through reclamation and that the structure appeared different from the project that had previously received environmental clearance.
According to MCZMA records, during its 190th meeting in November 2025, the authority granted CRZ approval for limited work at Gorai Koliwada. The permission allowed the Maharashtra Public Works Department to build a wharf-cum-platform and raise the height of an existing jetty used by fishing communities and boat operators, subject to several environmental safeguards.
These conditions required that the structure should not obstruct tidal water movement and that natural streams, creeks, and coastal channels remain unaffected. Authorities also directed that mangroves, dunes, and potential turtle nesting sites should not be disturbed during construction.
However, the complaint submitted to MCZMA claimed the structure now visible at the site may not match the approved design. Environmental groups stated that the jetty was expected to be built on stilts near the existing structure so tidal flows and sand movement could continue naturally. Instead, they alleged that the construction has taken place nearly 400 metres away from the original location on a sandy stretch of beach using reclamation methods.
Residents and activists have also reported visible changes along the coastline since construction began. Some locals said sections of the beach have become rockier and silt accumulation has increased along parts of the shore, raising concerns about possible changes in coastal currents.
The inspection will assess whether the construction adheres to CRZ notifications issued in 1991 and 2011 and whether it complies with directions previously issued by the Bombay High Court regarding coastal protection.
The issue has once again highlighted the environmental sensitivity of the Gorai coastline, where infrastructure development often sparks debates over erosion, sand movement, and preservation of natural coastal processes in Mumbai.
Source: Prop News Time
