The Maharashtra government has given the green light to transfer 256 acres of salt pan land in Mumbai to the Dharavi Redevelopment Project Pvt Ltd (DRPPL), a joint venture between Adani Realty Group and the Maharashtra government.
This land will be used to build rental housing for slum dwellers, providing them with a better place to live. This decision has sparked controversy, with environmentalists and opposition leaders expressing concerns about the potential harm to Mumbai's fragile ecosystem.
Earlier also, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) had sought salt pan land for the construction of an elevated Metro Line 6 depot which was put on hold due to environmentalists protests.
Once again, Mumbai's salt pan lands have become a contentious battleground, sparking intense debate between environmentalists and developers. The recent transfer of 256 acres of salt pan land to the Dharavi Redevelopment Project Pvt Ltd has fueled the controversy. This joint venture between Adani Realty Group and the Maharashtra government aims to build rental housing for slum dwellers, but environmentalists are concerned about the ecological impact.
These low-lying lands, where seawater flows in and leaves behind salt and minerals, play a crucial role in protecting the city from flooding, particularly in the eastern suburbs. However, with land at a premium in Mumbai, salt pans are being eyed for development projects, sparking concerns among environmentalists.
Mumbai is home to an impressive 5,378 acres of salt pan lands, a staggering nine times the size of the Dharavi slum. However, these valuable ecosystems are under threat. A significant 31% of this land, approximately 1,672 acres, lies in residential and commercial areas, making them prime targets for development. Alarmingly, around 480 acres have already been encroached upon, according to a 2014 state government study.
The fate of Mumbai's salt pan lands hangs in the balance. Speaking to Realty+, City-based environmentalist, Stalin D, Director, Vanshakti NGO, who is a member of the Bombay high court-appointed wetlands protection committee,said, "Reclamation and construction on salt pans is a suicidal mission undertaken by the Govt. Sadly this is being done to accommodate the desires of one powerful real-estate company. Putting lakhs of people in peril due to floods is not sustainable development."
