Over half of Maharashtra’s total mangrove area was protected as a legal ‘forest’ at the end of 2021, up from 30% at the start of that year.
Due to this, to be diverted into any non-forestry function, the mission postponements must search obligatory Forest Clearance (FC) from the forest division along with the permission of the Bombay High Court and CRZ clearance. Moreover, in case of any land use violation, the department of the forest will have the jurisdiction to take action against the offenders and remediate the area.
The total mangrove cover of Maharashtra is approximately 32,000 hectares out of which 16,984 hectares is now legal forest and will require clearance under the Forest Clearance Act (1980) to be diverted for any non-forestry purpose.
