Last Updated: 18.07.24

Dighi-Murud-Janjira, 44 miles south-east of Bombay as the crow flies, is an area of incredible natural beauty and heritage.  It includes some of the finest beaches on the coast and historical sites such as the Nawab’s palace, the Khokri tombs, Janjira island fort, and Kansa island fort.  In fact, Dighi-Murud-Janjira is a model of conservation.

And yet, until recently, there were plans for massive industrialization of the area. Had the ONGC Terminal, the ONGC Supply Base, the Sponge Iron Plant, and the Mazgaon Docks Ltd. Ship Building Yard been allowed to set up shop, this model of conservation would have been destroyed.

After a massive campaign of six years, BEAG was finally able to persuade the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change  to declare Dighi-Murud-Janjira free— up to a depth of 500 metres from the high water mark—from all industries, under the Environmental (Protection) Act.  The preliminary notification was gazetted on September 7, 1988.

The state government objected strenuously to the Ministry’s decision, but BEAG pointed out that the BMRDA (now MMRDA), the Directorate of Town Planning and the Government of Maharashtra had all concurred in declaring a 20-kilometre long strip from Rewas to Alibag (up to a depth of 1,000 metres from the high water mark) a Recreational Zone, where similar restrictions apply—and have been applied since 1983.

The Government of India issued its final notification protecting Dighi-Murud-Janjira from industries on January 6, 1989.

However, efforts are constantly being made to get the protective notification lifted, and BEAG anticipates a difficult time ahead on this issue.