Within a month of the Bombay high court’s (HC) order, the state has constituted a mangroves committee comprising 22 members to look into destruction, restoration and overall preservation of coastal wetlands along Konkan. Also, a three-member committee of state principal secretaries – revenue, forest and environment – has been constituted to monitor the functioning of the panel.

The state has 15,087.6 hectares of reserved mangrove forests and approximately 10,200 hectares of private mangrove forests that are yet to gain protected status. HT had reported earlier this month that the number of mangrove destruction cases in Mumbai increased by 70% in the first nine months of 2018, compared to the past two years. Mangrove land is being illegally acquired for real estate development in various eco-sensitive areas, said ecologists.

While detailing the role of the panel, the HC had said: “The committee shall be responsible for preservation and conservation of mangroves and restoration of reclaimed mangroves areas.” https://m.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/special-22-all-set-to-save-mangroves-in-maharashtra/story-BEAn4PumIDRZsqUnuCGhFO.html