Supreme Court Asks Maharashtra to Reveal 'Real Beneficiaries' of Mumbai's Reclaimed Sea Land
The Supreme Court has directed the Maharashtra government to provide details of the 'real beneficiaries' of the land reclaimed from the sea for the Bandra Worli Sea Link project. This comes after a plea was filed to prevent commercial development on the reclaimed land.
Supreme CourtBandra Worli Sea LinkCoastal Regulation ZoneEnvironmental ClearanceCommercial DevelopmentReal Estate MumbaiNov 04, 2025
Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, representing the petitioner, pointed out that the Bombay High Court had dismissed the plea on August 26, highlighting that luxury houses are being built on the reclaimed land. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, also involved in the matter, argued that the subject land does not fall under the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) and is not disputed by the petitioner. He questioned the applicability of the Environment Protection Act in the development of the reclaimed land. Sankaranarayanan, however, noted that Rohatgi was preempting his arguments and had not yet advanced detailed points.
The appeal, filed by activist Zoru Darayus Bhathena against the high court order, reveals that on June 10, 1993, the Maharashtra government sought permission from the Union Ministry of Environment & Forest (MOEF) to reclaim land for the Bandra Worli Sea Link. At that time, the CRZ notification of 1991 was in force, prohibiting land reclamation between the High Tide Line and Low Tide Line. However, a subsequent amendment in 1999 allowed land reclamation for bridges and sea-links. On April 26, 2000, the MOEF granted permission to reclaim additional land but specifically stipulated that no portion of the reclaimed land should be used for residential or commercial purposes.
This condition was imposed to prevent the respondents from using the reclaimed land for other purposes, independent of the CRZ Notification 1991. The petitioner contends that this condition was imposed to prevent misuse of the larger area of reclaimed land. The authorities had given specific assurances not to use the reclaimed land for commercial purposes and to develop it for green areas.
On January 10, 2024, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) issued a tender for the 'Selection of Developer for Development of MSRDC Land Parcel in Bandra as Construction & Development Agency.' The tender covered an area of 2,32,463 Sq Mtrs (57 Acres). Upon learning of the proposed development, the petitioner filed a complaint with the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA), drawing attention to the fact that commercial development of reclaimed land was not permitted. The Respondent No.6 Adani Properties, being the highest bidder, was selected as the 'selected bidder' by the MSRDC, and a letter of acceptance was issued in its favor on March 16, 2024.
Bhathena approached the high court seeking directions to restrain the MSRDC from planning or executing any commercial development activity on the subject land. The primary ground for the dismissal of the writ petition by the high court was that, although the reclaimed land could not be developed under the initial environmental clearance granted by the MOEF on April 26, 2000, the CRZ Notification 1991 was subsequently replaced by notifications of 2011 and 2019. Under the 2019 notification, the subject land no longer falls within the CRZ area, thus lifting the embargo imposed on April 26, 2000.
The petitioner argues that the high court's order, by holding that the subject land is now outside the CRZ limits and can be commercially exploited without restriction, has created a loophole in the CRZ regime. This interpretation nullifies the statutory safeguards of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and is against the public trust doctrine, precautionary principle, and the principle of sustainable development and inter-generational equity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Bandra Worli Sea Link project?
The Bandra Worli Sea Link is a major infrastructure project in Mumbai, India, connecting Bandra and Worli through a sea link. The project involved reclaiming land from the sea for its construction.
Why is the Supreme Court involved in this case?
The Supreme Court is involved because a plea was filed to prevent commercial development on the reclaimed land, and the court seeks to know the 'real beneficiaries' of the project.
What is the main contention of the petitioner?
The petitioner contends that the environmental clearance conditions prohibit the use of reclaimed land for commercial purposes, and the high court's order allowing commercial development creates a loophole in the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) regime.
What is the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ)?
The Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) is a set of regulations in India designed to protect the coastal environment and regulate activities in coastal areas to prevent environmental degradation.
Who was selected as the 'selected bidder' for the development of the reclaimed land?
Adani Properties was selected as the 'selected bidder' by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) for the development of the reclaimed land in Bandra.
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