‘Greed for space by builder lobby has reduced Mumbai’s mangrove cover by 50%’

Arvind Untawale, executive secretary of the Mangrove Society of India, a non-profit organisation formed in 1990 that works towards the preservation of existing mangrove forests, highlights the main reason for the destruction of mangroves in Mumbai

Arvind Untawale, executive secretary of the Mangrove Society of India, a non-profit organisation formed in 1990 that works towards the preservation of existing mangrove forests, highlights the main reason for the destruction of mangroves in Mumbai. A former scientist at the National Institute of Oceanography, Untawale has been a member of several national committees dedicated towards protection of mangroves, including the National Mangrove Committee constituted by the Union environment ministry. He explains why the landmark court order is being ignored and why citizen groups should be involved in mangrove conservation.

What are the reasons for mangrove destruction in Mumbai and surrounding areas?

There is a greed for space in the city from the builder lobby, which has joined hands with politicians, making it a vicious cycle to get hold of land. As a result, the environment is suffering. Over the past two decades, I have studied Mumbai’s mangroves and the sole reason these trees are being destroyed is for the construction of houses. There are massive apartment buildings today that stand amidst thick mangrove cover after receiving all clearances from the state government.

According to official records, the mangrove cover in the state and city has increased. Do you think this is accurate?

While the rest of the state is trying to protect its mangrove cover through various awareness activities, Mumbai has lost more than 50% of its mangrove cover through the builder-politician nexus in the past 16 years. Various NGOs and citizen groups have been regularly going to court to stop these violations. However, this has only made the builder lobby cautious and led to covert ways of destroying mangroves. The only protected areas in Mumbai now are Thane creek, Vikhroli and parts of Vasai creek.

Several Bombay high court orders and laws prohibit the destruction of mangroves in the state. Do you think they have been effective?

Even after a landmark judgment by the Bombay high court in 2014, which banned the destruction of mangroves, the laws still have not been effective. The government is very cautious in implementing those court orders because they destroy the opportunity of any under-the-table deals with the builder lobby. The examples can be clearly seen through projects such as the coastal road getting environmental clearances. There is also a need for the judiciary to see the rampant destruction themselves and levy stronger penalties.

Most cases of mangrove destruction have been reported on privately owned land. Should the jurisdiction of such cases come under the aegis of the state mangrove cell?

Not only in Maharashtra or Mumbai, large areas along the western coastline have been neglected . While the mangrove cell is already trying to get the private areas under their jurisdiction, the rules cannot be changed overnight. The government needs to hand over all wetland areas at the earliest to one agency so that there is no confusion when it comes to taking action, conservation and restoration.

There were 109 cases reported from Mumbai’s suburbs this year, but no arrests or convictions. Who is to be blamed for this and is there a need for citizen involvement for the preservation of mangroves?

It is solely the state government’s responsibility to increase vigilance for widespread mangrove destruction cases in Mumbai and make sure that a repeat of the 2005 deluge does not happen. Mangroves act as a barrier because they absorb excess water from rivers, streams and the seashore. Awareness levels have increased only because of NGOs and citizen groups fighting to save mangroves not only in Mumbai, but Maharashtra also. If there is pressure from the citizens, the government will be forced to take steps in the right direction.