Mumbai's Salt Pans Under Threat: Looming Flood Crisis Sparks Outcry

Mumbai, India: Environmentalists and urban planners are raising alarm bells as Mumbai’s Dharavi redevelopment project eyes the city’s salt pan lands in the eastern suburbs for rehabilitation purposes. The move threatens to dismantle a critical ecological system that safeguards the city against monsoon flooding and provides vital habitats for mangroves and wildlife.

Lawyer Sagar Devre has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Bombay High Court challenging the land transfer approved by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) in August 2023. Devre warns that salt pans act as "natural sponges" that prevent waterlogging, and disrupting these areas will exacerbate flooding risks, jeopardize livelihoods, and contravene environmental laws.

Environmentalists agree, highlighting the salt pans’ role in sustaining Mumbai's drainage system, supporting biodiversity, and serving as buffers against coastal erosion and rising sea levels. Anand Pendharkar of SPROUTS noted that these wetlands support migratory birds and local wildlife, including jackals and mongoose, while preventing climate-induced disasters.

Critics argue that exploiting the salt pans will repeat the mistakes that led to devastating urban flooding, such as the infamous 2005 floods caused by wetland destruction along the Mithi River. Mangrove destruction, a rise in the urban heat island effect, and threats to nearby natural reserves like Maharashtra Nature Park are also flagged as serious concerns.

“We cannot keep playing with nature without facing repercussions,” said Stalin D of Vanashakti NGO, urging policymakers to reconsider and protect these invaluable ecosystems.

As Mumbai rushes toward urban development, experts warn that neglecting environmental care will come at a hefty price for the financial capital, its people, and its future.