Last Updated: 23.07.24

In September 2009, the Chauda Gaon Paryavaran Suraksha Ani Janavikas Sanstha,  the association of 14 villages in Alibag taluka that had been created in 1977 by the farmers and fishermen of Alibag in response to the Government of India’s proposal to build fertilizer plants and a petrochemical complex at Mandwa, sent a complaint to the Maharashtra Environment Department stating that mangroves in the 200-acre wetlands at Mandwa were being systematically destroyed, with pump-sets being used at night to drain water out of the marsh in order to facilitate the cutting of trees.

BEAG took the Chauda Gaon association’s appeal to stop the destruction of mangroves in the Mandwa wetlands to the Maharashtra Environment Department, pointing out that the destruction of mangroves was a gross violation of CRZ regulations as well as the orders of the Bombay High Court calling for the protection of the state’s coastal wetlands.

BEAG also explained to the Environment Department that the two sluice gates at the western end of the marsh leading to the sea which regulated the flow of tidal waters into the marsh had been replaced by steel gates, thus blocking the free flow of water in and out of the marsh and choking the mangroves.

                                                                      Steel Sluice gate 1 Credit: BEAG Archive

                                                                     Steel Sluice gate 2 Credit: BEAG Archive

                                 Regulating Tidal waters into the marsh with 2 sluice gates Credit: BEAG Archive

In addition, five shipping containers had been placed in the wetlands under the guise of a rice research project that the project promoters were clearly hoping to use to justify construction within the marsh.

     Five shipping containers placed in the wetlands under the guise of rice research project Credit: BEAG Archive

BEAG drew the attention of the Raigad Collector and the state Environment Department to a housing project that was being proposed at the site of the wetlands and was being advertised as “a unique gated community of over 200 acres nestled along the coast of the Arabian Sea 10 nautical miles and mere 16 minutes from Gateway of India”. BEAG pointed out that any such development on the wetlands would be in gross violation of CRZ-1 regulations and Regional Plan provisions.