Maharashtra housing department to stall salt pan land development, says Jitendra Awhad

THANE: Maharashtra cabinet minister for housing, Jitendra Awhad, on Thursday, opposed the Centre’s move to commercially exploit the salt pan lands dotting Mumbai and Thane coastlines, saying any construction there would end up disturbing the natural flow of water and cause flooding in the cities.
Awhad spoke to TOI on the possible revival of the 2016 proposal put up by the central government before the then state government to exploit these vast lands collectively spanning over 5,500 acres in Mumbai and Thane.It is learnt that the idea was to free up these lands for construction of commercial and residential complexes following which the MMRDA was asked to hire agencies to explore the feasibility.
“The salt pan lands come under the central government but any development to be made on them here will require permission from the Mumbai municipal corporation and the state housing department. I have discussed the issue with chief minister Uddhav Thackeray and environment minister Aaditya Thackeray and we have unanimously decided to save these salt pan lands and reject any proposal for construction on them,” said Awhad.
“The Mumbai island city and suburbs, including distant suburbs of Vasai-Virar, have vast salt pans that act as barriers to hold sea water from rushing in the hinterland and also manage the underground water table. Any move to disturb this could wreak havoc for Mumbai and Thane,” he reasoned.
Meanwhile, activists have welcomed the move saying it will help save the salt pan lands in Thane and Mumbai from being plundered under the name of development.