Question Of Cities

The Bombay High Court has cleared the removal of mangroves in parts of Palghar district, paving the way for faster ex*****on of the Vadhavan Port project and associated road infrastructure. In an order passed on Tuesday, a bench of Justices Bharati Dangre and Manjusha Deshpande allowed the felling of 208 mangrove trees for an eight-lane access-controlled highway connecting the upcoming port to NH-48, noting the project's public importance and wider economic significance.

The decision comes amid growing concerns over the loss of green cover in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. Mangroves are critical coastal ecosystems that act as natural buffers against flooding and storm surges, store carbon, support biodiversity and protect shorelines from erosion. Environmentalists warn that continued loss of such ecosystems could weaken the region's ecological resilience, particularly as climate change increases the risks of extreme rainfall, sea-level rise and coastal flooding.

We've been closely covering Mumbai's ecological challenges and the growing pressures on its natural ecosystems. Read more through the link in bio.

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