Environmentalists are seeking legal action as a result of the City and Industrial Development Corporation's (CIDCO) persistent failure to protect the city's wetlands and mangroves. The mangroves surrounding the T.S. Chanakaya lake in Nerul, Navi Mumbai, have sustained repeated damages. As a result, a new public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed in the High Court (HC).

Since around 200 mangroves were discovered to have been purposefully destroyed, activists have been mobilising to save the lake from encroachments since mid-December.

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The petition, which was submitted on January 3, lists the various incidents of damage observed near the wetlands. Additionally, CIDCO has been held solely responsible for the damage that has gone unchecked.

According to petitioner Kanchan Purohit, “The destruction of the wetlands began when CIDCO decided to have a golf along with nine residential towers on five plots falling under Coastal Regulation Zones (CRZ). Even though NMMC is the planning authority, CIDCO continues to act independently and cause more damage to the environment. Therefore, in the interest of the City’s flora and fauna I decided to get the PIL filed.”

The petition asks the HC to order a stop to all planned or ongoing construction within 100 meters of the hazard lines and the High Tide Line (HTL). It further demands that the state government publish notices and warnings to the public, discouraging them from investing their hard-earned money in projects located in CRZs, and that the HC order MCMZA to stop processing any applications for construction in CRZ areas.

The petition asks the HC to halt the construction of nine nearby towers. In order to clearly demarcate the lake and other natural water bodies within the city, it also requires the installation of permanent fencing.