Calls for immediate action

Environment activist Sunil Agarwal has raised concerns over the destruction of wetlands, lakes, mangroves, and other natural resources in Sector 60, Nerul. Following a complaint lodged by Law Global on behalf of Agarwal, an inspection was carried out by the Tahsildar, Thane, at pockets A, B, C, D, and E in Sector 60 on December 23, 2024, under the direction of the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA).

The Panchnama revealed the presence of a wetland, flanked by mangroves on one side and separated by an unpaved kuccha dam road. The inspection contradicted earlier statements by CIDCO denying the existence of wetlands in the area and claiming the presence of a road on the creekward side of pockets A and E. Agarwal has questioned these discrepancies in statements and has called on authorities, including the MCZMA, the Urban Development Ministry, and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), to clarify the misinformation.

Agarwal, a chartered accountant and resident of NRI Phase II, has been advocating for the protection of the wetlands in Sector 60 since 2017. Pockets A and D fall under CRZ-I, while pocket E is classified as CRZ-II, restricting construction as per Coastal Regulation Zone norms. Agarwal, also the founder of the Save Navi Mumbai Environment group, filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL/20/2022) in the Bombay High Court to protect the area from being converted into a golf course and concrete structures.

“The destruction of mangroves continues despite the Bombay High Court’s 2018 judgment safeguarding these areas. CIDCO has failed to hand over mangroves under its possession to the Forest Department even after five years. I urge the new Forest Minister to take immediate action and ensure these mangroves are handed over for protection,” Agarwal stated.