Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) is all set to revamp three beaches in Mumbai's western region, namely Erangal Beach, Silver Beach, and Dana Pani Beach located in Madh island, Malad. The Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) has approved the plan for the redesign of these beaches, which is aimed at improving the condition of the beaches and increasing local tourism.
The meeting that approved the plan took place on March 8, and its minutes were recently made public.
The proposed project includes the construction of protection walls and visitor facilities to improve erosion control and beach preservation. Erangal Beach, for instance, has been experiencing severe erosion, particularly during periods of intense rain. To address this, the MMB proposed the construction of a safety wall and visitor facilities to control erosion and increase local tourism.
Similarly, Silver Beach suffers from hazardous soil erosion, which has led to a decline in its tourist appeal. To remedy this, the MMB has suggested building an anti-sea erosion bund with a length of 500 metres and a base breadth of 22 metres. Additionally, they will develop tourist amenities such as restrooms, gardens for senior citizens and children, a food court, and a solar-powered street light system.
The MMB also plans to redevelop Dana Pani Beach by building a safety wall to control erosion and improving public facilities like a walking track, cobblestone pathway, bio toilets, and solar lights. The proposed development will be carried out while ensuring minimal disruption to the soil quality of the area.
The MMB has been instructed to ensure that the anti-sea erosion barrier is present at high water and on the landward side of the coastline's high tide line. They have also been advised by the MCZMA that the seaward-side beach area should not be occupied by the planned bund, and it should not take away from the shore area.
However, some environmentalists have raised concerns about the plan. They disagree with the idea of building protection barriers on the beaches, as they believe it could worsen the condition of the sand and beaches.
According to the Environment Impact Assessment report, building activities like material storage must be carried out outside of the CRZ area to ensure minimal disruption of soil quality. If necessary, a small amount of soil will be cleared and levelled, but care will be given to keep the land level.
Criticising the move, D Stalin, environmentalist of NGO Vanashakti told HT: "The MMB is destroying the beaches. Beaches are natural areas that must be kept free from construction and for the enjoyment of the common citizens. But MMB makes roads and dumps tetrapods on beaches thereby hastening erosion. The anti-erosion wall is only a cosmetic term to hide the real damage proposed to be brought on the beach. Destroying beaches has become a money-spinning exercise."
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