Stop BMC from Destroying 45,000 Mangroves in Mumbai
Stop BMC from Destroying 45,000 Mangroves in Mumbai
The Issue
Dear BMC, Maharashtra Government, and Environmental Authorities,
Mumbai is a city already on the brink—flooded annually, choking on pollution, and gasping for green lungs. Yet, on December 12, 2025, the Bombay High Court granted permission to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to fell or transplant up to 45,675 mangroves (out of over 60,000 affected) in the vital Gorai-Manori stretch for the Versova-Bhayander Coastal Road Extension. This isn't progress; it's ecological suicide.
These mangroves aren't just trees—they're Mumbai's natural flood barriers, carbon sinks, and biodiversity hotspots. They absorb storm surges, prevent erosion, and protect coastal communities from the worsening climate crisis. Cutting them down for yet another car-centric highway will:
Worsen flooding: Mumbai's 2025 monsoons were brutal enough; without this buffer, low-lying areas like Versova, Gorai, and Dahisar will drown faster.
Destroy habitats: Home to birds, crabs, and fish that sustain local fisherfolk—thousands of livelihoods at stake.
Fail on 'compensation': The court mandates planting three times the number elsewhere (e.g., in distant Chandrapur), but history shows these efforts flop—mangroves need saline coastal soil, not inland plots. Yearly reports until 2035? That's just greenwashing.
This project ignores cumulative impacts: No proper public hearings, no full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) considering Mumbai's overall mangrove loss (already down 40% in decades). Builders profit, commuters get a road that won't solve traffic (public transport would), and we all pay with rising sea levels and insurance premiums.
We Demand:
Immediate Stay: Halt all tree-cutting and site clearance until an independent, cumulative EIA is conducted with public consultations.
Project Review: Scrap or redesign the Versova-Bhayander extension to avoid mangrove destruction—prioritize elevated alignments or public transit alternatives.
Accountability: Enforce strict monitoring of any compensatory afforestation; penalize BMC for past failures (like Aarey).
Citizen Voice: Form a Mangrove Protection Task Force with activists, scientists, and residents to oversee all coastal projects.
Mumbai's resilience depends on its mangroves. We've seen the Aarey fight win pauses before—now's our chance to protect Gorai. Sign now, share everywhere, and join protests at Gorai Beach (Dec 26, 9:30 AM). Together, we can turn the tide. #SaveGoraiMangroves #MumbaiMangrovesMatter
2
The Issue
Dear BMC, Maharashtra Government, and Environmental Authorities,
Mumbai is a city already on the brink—flooded annually, choking on pollution, and gasping for green lungs. Yet, on December 12, 2025, the Bombay High Court granted permission to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to fell or transplant up to 45,675 mangroves (out of over 60,000 affected) in the vital Gorai-Manori stretch for the Versova-Bhayander Coastal Road Extension. This isn't progress; it's ecological suicide.
These mangroves aren't just trees—they're Mumbai's natural flood barriers, carbon sinks, and biodiversity hotspots. They absorb storm surges, prevent erosion, and protect coastal communities from the worsening climate crisis. Cutting them down for yet another car-centric highway will:
Worsen flooding: Mumbai's 2025 monsoons were brutal enough; without this buffer, low-lying areas like Versova, Gorai, and Dahisar will drown faster.
Destroy habitats: Home to birds, crabs, and fish that sustain local fisherfolk—thousands of livelihoods at stake.
Fail on 'compensation': The court mandates planting three times the number elsewhere (e.g., in distant Chandrapur), but history shows these efforts flop—mangroves need saline coastal soil, not inland plots. Yearly reports until 2035? That's just greenwashing.
This project ignores cumulative impacts: No proper public hearings, no full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) considering Mumbai's overall mangrove loss (already down 40% in decades). Builders profit, commuters get a road that won't solve traffic (public transport would), and we all pay with rising sea levels and insurance premiums.
We Demand:
Immediate Stay: Halt all tree-cutting and site clearance until an independent, cumulative EIA is conducted with public consultations.
Project Review: Scrap or redesign the Versova-Bhayander extension to avoid mangrove destruction—prioritize elevated alignments or public transit alternatives.
Accountability: Enforce strict monitoring of any compensatory afforestation; penalize BMC for past failures (like Aarey).
Citizen Voice: Form a Mangrove Protection Task Force with activists, scientists, and residents to oversee all coastal projects.
Mumbai's resilience depends on its mangroves. We've seen the Aarey fight win pauses before—now's our chance to protect Gorai. Sign now, share everywhere, and join protests at Gorai Beach (Dec 26, 9:30 AM). Together, we can turn the tide. #SaveGoraiMangroves #MumbaiMangrovesMatter
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Petition created on December 25, 2025