India, June 14 -- The state government's revenue and forest department has approved the "diversion" or destruction of hundreds of mangroves spread over 0.39 hectares of forest land in Thane's Mogharpada area to facilitate the construction of an approach road and spur line for the Mogharpada Car Depot for Mumbai Metro 4 (Wadala-Kasarvadavali) and 4A (Kasarvadavli-Gaimukh).

While this mangrove forest land located between Mogharpada and Vasai Creek is technically "unnotified" (not protected by the government), there are several layers of protection to all mangroves in the state. On Friday, the government issued a resolution clearing a crucial statutory requirement for this land for the car depot project, which, at 174.01 hectares, is planne...