Navi Mumbai News: FIR Registered Over Illegal Felling Of 100 Trees In Mangrove Buffer Zone

An FIR has been registered at the NRI Coastal Police Station in Navi Mumbai  for the illegal felling of approximately 100 trees in the mangrove buffer zone at Sector 52A, Nerul. The complaint was filed by Nilesh Shantaram Kamble, Village Revenue Officer of Belapur, following a site inspection and environmental assessment.

The land where the alleged the tree cutting occurred Plot Nos. 3, 6, and  7 was officially allotted by CIDCO on March 5, 2025. However, during a joint inspection on March 12 by officials from CIDCO, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC), the Forest Department, and the Maritime Board, it was found that trees including indhali, bor, elaichi, tamarind, subabhul, and meshawak had been uprooted using JCB machines.

The officer decided to file the complaint after CIDCO authorities confirmed that no permission.

The FIR has been filed under Sections 15 and 19 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, citing violation of Bombay High Court directives issued under PIL No. 87 of 2006, which strictly prohibit unauthorized activities in mangrove and buffer areas.

Earlier on March 10, NMMC officials had seized two JCBs (MH 43 CG 7926 and MH 48 VH 0932) from the location and imposed fines on those operating them.

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