Navi Mumbai: In a first-of-its-kind initiative in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), a previously buried four-hectare mangrove zone in Vashi has been successfully restored by the forest department, prompting environmentalists to call for the development of a mangrove walkway at the site.
The restoration took place at Survey Number 17 in Vashi village near the railway station, where the department removed nearly 250 truckloads of debris dumped over the mangrove land.
Nature lovers and activists hailed the effort, noting this is the first recorded instance of a mangrove burial site being revived in MMR. B N Kumar, Director of NatConnect Foundation, pointed out that despite a 2018 Bombay High Court order mandating protection and conservation of mangroves, little has been done to restore degraded areas—until now.
Nandakumar Pawar, head of the NGO Sagar Shakti, expressed concern over the lack of similar restoration efforts in other affected areas such as Uran, Ulwe, Kharghar, the Sion-Panvel Highway, and Chembur. He stressed the importance of mangroves as natural barriers against tidal surges and coastal erosion.
Pawar also noted that mangroves are capable of regenerating on their own when allowed to, citing examples like Pagote, where tidal waters reclaimed dumped areas and nurtured natural regrowth. Kumar added that in such cases, official intervention was minimal or absent.
Range Forest Officer Sudhir Manjare has invited environmentalists and citizens to visit the restored site. Following this success, activists have proposed the creation of an educational mangrove trail at Vashi, highlighting the ecological role of mangroves as carbon sinks, breeding grounds for marine life, and natural water purifiers.
They have also urged the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) to implement its proposed Mangrove Park in the area. Environmentalists recommend building a wooden walkway alongside plantation efforts, ensuring minimal disturbance to the ecosystem. Kumar cited the Gorai-Dahisar mangrove trail as a model, where construction was carefully executed through existing gaps in vegetation.
Unlike the Ghansoli-Airoli stretch—where NMMC's earlier mangrove park plan raised concerns due to the density of existing flora—the Vashi site offers a timely opportunity for development before new mangrove growth takes root, potentially simplifying the project’s execution.
