Legal Notice Issued Over Mangrove Cutting for Mumbai's Coastal Road Project

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Maharashtra Mangrove Cell, and chief conservator of forests have received a legal notice from NGO Vanashakti over alleged mangrove cutting for the Versova-Bhayandar Coastal Road project without required Stage-II forest clearance under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. The notice cites a Bombay High Court order prohibiting mangrove destruction before final clearance and mandates simultaneous compensatory afforestation. Vanashakti alleges work began in Malwani mangroves without approvals and plans to challenge the project in court.