The Bombay High Court has been informed of significant progress in the long-standing directive to protect Maharashtra's vital mangrove ecosystems. A compliance report submitted this week reveals that 955 hectares of mangrove forest land have been officially handed over to the state's forest department since a court order in October 2025.
Court Directive and Conservation Mandate
The ongoing process stems from a landmark September 2018 judgment by the High Court. The ruling was issued in a public interest litigation (PIL) originally filed by the NGO Bombay Environmental Action Group (BEAG) back in 2006. The court mandated the conservation of mangroves and declared all mangrove areas on government land as "protected forests." It ordered these lands to be transferred to the forest department's care within 12 weeks of the declaration.
Due to perceived delays in full implementation, the environmental NGO Vanashakti filed a contempt petition in 2025. This prompted the High Court to issue fresh directives, ordering a group of district collectors across Maharashtra to expedite the handover of vast mangrove tracts within two months.
District-by-District Progress Report
The affidavit, submitted by S V Ramarao, additional principal chief conservator of forest (mangrove cell), provides a detailed breakdown. The transferred 955 hectares are part of a larger identified parcel of 9,765 hectares across seven coastal districts.
According to the report, the cumulative area now under the forest department's control has reached over 26,778 hectares. This includes significant areas in the Mumbai region: 289 hectares in Mumbai city and 4,313 hectares in the Mumbai suburbs.
The compliance levels vary by district:
- Ratnagiri has achieved full compliance, with all 2,899 hectares now with the forest department.
- Mumbai suburbs showed high compliance, transferring 246 of 268 hectares since October 2025.
- Thane has transferred 13 hectares of its 447-hectare target.
- Palghar has handed over 2.5 hectares of 4,670 hectares.
- Raigad transferred 931 hectares of 4,104 hectares.
- Sindhudurg handed over 103 hectares of 157 hectares.
Ongoing Efforts and Future Handovers
The affidavit also outlines ongoing negotiations for other critical mangrove patches. In December 2025, a request was made to the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) to hand over 290 hectares under its control. Furthermore, the mangrove cell has requested the central government to transfer 426 hectares of land currently managed by the salt department, spread across Mumbai, Thane, and Raigad.
Environmentalist D Stalin of Vanashakti emphasized the necessity of the court's intervention. "Over the years, we had requested several times to the government to hand over all mangrove lands along Maharashtra's coast to the forest department, for better protection," Stalin said. "However, since the handover was not taking place, we filed a contempt of court petition."
The forest department's mangrove cell informed the court that active protection measures are being undertaken. "In sensitive areas, fencing and wall construction are being done to prevent encroachment and dumping of debris," the cell stated. The High Court continues to monitor the situation, ensuring the complete transfer and long-term safeguarding of these crucial coastal buffers.
