India, May 31 -- A member of the Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) visited key stretches of the Mula River on Saturday following concerns raised by citizens and environmental groups over the ecological impact of ongoing and proposed riverfront development projects.

CEC member Anjan Kumar Mohanty inspected the Ram-Mula confluence, Balewadi, Dada Ghat and Sangvi stretches of the river. During the visit, citizens and conservationists highlighted the presence of riparian forests, wetlands, springs and wildlife habitats along the riverbanks, which they fear could be affected by development activities.

They have been urging authorities for several months to recognise these ecologically sensitive riparian zones as "deem...