Maharashtra government's indiscriminate development plans will put Mumbai at risk: Congress leader Milind Deora

In order to make way for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s dream project to construct the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train, the Maharashtra government has confirmed that 54,000 mangroves will be removed across 13.36 hectares of land in Maharashtra. 

This has raised serious concerns among several environmentalists and the opposition parties. Mumbai Congress President Milind Deora has also expressed his objection against the “indiscriminate development plans” of Maharashtra government regarding the bullet train project. 

Deora said that earlier, serious questions were raised over the financial viability of the bullet train project. However, with the Maharashtra government razing 54,000 mangroves, it seems that they have forgotten the lessons of the 2005 flood in Mumbai which killed over 1,000 people and the city faced huge losses.

We are all for development but no indiscriminate development which puts Mumbai and its citizens at grave risk. In all three cases including coastal road, salt pan lands and now the bullet train, the government is permitting development at the cost of environment which can be dangerous,” said Deora.

Deora urged Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to find solutions in order to protect the mangroves and salt pan lands. Earlier, the Mumbai Congress President had appealed CM Fadnavis to refrain from any development activities on the salt pan lands after the state government proposed for affordable housing on the same.    

The Maharashtra government’s decision to remove 54,000 mangroves to make way for the bullet train project was confirmed by state Transport Minister Diwakar Raote in a written reply during the ongoing state legislature monsoon session.

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Mangroves are crucial which help prevent flooding, especially in low-lying areas. With the impact of climate change and the rising sea levels, Mumbai will be at a risk of major flooding similar to which happened in the year 2005.