The Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) has ordered an inquiry into the proposed housing project planned on salt pan land in Mulund East for the rehabilitation of Dharavi project-affected residents. The move follows complaints and protests by local residents and the Salt Pan Protection Committee, which have raised concerns over the project's potential environmental impact.
MCZMA has directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the Deputy Salt Commissioner and the Mangrove Cell of the Forest Department to examine the complaints and conduct a detailed investigation into the environmental risks associated with the project. The agencies have also been asked to respond directly to the complainants and submit copies of their findings to the authority.
Residents of Mulund recently staged a protest against the proposed development, arguing that the salt pan ecosystem plays a critical role in maintaining environmental balance and mitigating urban flooding. Protesters claimed that large-scale construction on the site could adversely affect natural drainage patterns and place additional pressure on local infrastructure.
The controversy centres on a proposal under the Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP) to construct housing for residents who are ineligible for rehabilitation within Dharavi itself. According to project documents submitted for environmental clearance, around 26,380 housing units are proposed on approximately 58 acres of salt pan land in Mulund, with several towers expected to rise between 40 and 50 storeys.
Environmental activists and local residents argue that the salt pans are not merely vacant land but function as important wetlands that retain excess rainwater during heavy monsoon periods. They have warned that filling and developing these low-lying areas could increase flood risks in surrounding neighbourhoods. Recent observations showing waterlogged conditions and bird activity at the site even before the onset of the monsoon have further strengthened demands for an independent environmental assessment.
Apart from environmental concerns, residents have expressed fears that the proposed rehabilitation project could strain roads, water supply networks and other civic amenities in Mulund. Opposition to the project has been growing among local groups, even as authorities continue to advance plans linked to the larger Dharavi redevelopment initiative.
MCZMA’s intervention is expected to bring greater scrutiny to the environmental implications of the project before any further approvals are considered.
Also Read: Maharashtra Plans to Support Children of Single Mothers in Higher Education