MUMBAI: Citizens groups, environmental activists and local residents will come together on May 17, Sunday to form a human chain in Bandra West to protest what they claim is the destruction of over 45,000 mangroves for the Mumbai Coastal Road project.While approximately 60,000 mangroves fall in the influence zone of the Mumbai Coastal Road (North) project around 45,000 are getting impacted. Off these around 9,000 mangroves will be permanently cut. The infrastructure project estimated to cost the corporation over Rs 20,000 crores will pass through an alignment area of 103 hectaresThe protest will be held at the Amphitheatre, Carter Road, Bandra West between 5 pm and 6 pm.The initiative, titled “Mumbai Deserves Better – Save Mangroves, Save Mumbai”, seeks to highlight concerns over large-scale ecological impact and demand greater transparency and accountability in coastal development works.Mangroves, activists said, play a crucial role in protecting Mumbai from flooding, supporting marine biodiversity, absorbing carbon emissions and sustaining traditional fishing communities. They warned that any large-scale loss of mangrove cover could have long-term environmental consequences for the city.
