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The Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) has directed the Mumbai Suburban district administration to conduct a site inspection at Gorai Beach following complaints of possible violations of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms during jetty construction. The complaint, filed by environmental NGO Vanashakti, alleged that the structure was built through reclamation and at a location different from what had been approved earlier. MCZMA has asked the District Collector to submit a factual report within seven days and take necessary action if any violations of CRZ rules or clearance conditions are confirmed.
The Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority has ordered an investigation into construction activity at Gorai Beach in Borivali after concerns were raised about possible violations of coastal regulations. The authority has asked the Mumbai Suburban district administration to carry out a site inspection and submit a factual report within seven days regarding the nature of the work and whether it complies with the approved project conditions. Advertisement
A communication from the state's Environment and Climate Change Department at Mantralaya was addressed to the District Collector of Mumbai Suburban, who also heads the District Coastal Zone Management Committee. The letter directed officials to verify the details of the construction and examine whether the work violates provisions of the Coastal Regulation Zone framework. The administration has also been asked to ensure that an officer from the collector's office visits the site and prepares a detailed report for submission to MCZMA.
The direction came after a complaint was filed by environmentalist Stalin Dayanand from the NGO Vanashakti. The complaint stated that a jetty had been constructed along the Gorai coastline through reclamation work and that the structure appeared to be different from the project that had earlier received clearance. The complaint also referred to reports highlighting concerns over the scale and location of the construction.
Records of MCZMA show that during its 190th meeting held in November 2025, the authority had granted Coastal Regulation Zone clearance for limited work at Gorai Koliwada. The approval allowed the Maharashtra Public Works Department to construct a wharf-cum-platform and increase the height of an existing jetty used by local fishing communities and boat operators. The project was permitted with several environmental safeguards intended to prevent damage to the coastal ecosystem.
The clearance included specific conditions that required the structure to be designed in a way that would not obstruct tidal water movement. Authorities had also directed that natural streams, creeks and coastal water channels should remain unaffected by the work. Additional safeguards stated that mangroves, sand dunes and any turtle nesting areas in the vicinity should not be disturbed during the construction process.
According to the complaint submitted to the authority, the structure currently visible at the site appears to deviate from these approved conditions. Environmental groups claimed that the jetty was originally expected to be constructed on stilts adjacent to the existing jetty so that the movement of tidal water and sand along the coast could continue naturally. Instead, the structure has reportedly been built almost 400 metres away from the original location on a sandy portion of the beach, using land-filling and reclamation techniques.
Local residents and activists have also pointed to visible changes in the coastal stretch since the work began several months ago. Some people living in the area said the beach surface has become more rocky in certain sections and that silt deposits have increased along parts of the shoreline. Environmental groups believe that such changes may be linked to alterations in coastal currents caused by the newly built structure.
The inspection ordered by MCZMA will therefore examine whether the construction complies with the conditions of the clearance and with provisions under the Coastal Regulation Zone notifications issued in 1991 and 2011. Officials have also been asked to verify whether the work follows earlier directions issued by the Bombay High Court related to coastal protection and environmental compliance.
The issue has again brought attention to the environmental sensitivity of the Gorai coastline. Over the years, the coastal belt around Gorai and neighbouring areas has witnessed several discussions over erosion, protection measures and infrastructure development. Environmental organisations have often raised concerns that large structures built close to the shoreline can affect sand movement, tidal flow and natural coastal processes.
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