World Environment Day 2025: Mumbai's Environmental Crisis and the Urgency for Real Action
On World Environment Day 2025, we reflect on the dire state of Mumbai's environment, highlighting the need for genuine efforts to protect and restore the city's natural legacy.
EnvironmentMumbaiDeforestationWaste ManagementUrban DevelopmentReal Estate MumbaiJun 05, 2025
On World Environment Day, it is crucial to take stock of what remains. Mumbai is the only city in India with two protected wildlife areas within its limits, yet it is crumbling. Deforestation, wetland reclamation, choking rivers, turning rivers into drains, dumping waste, and promoting construction in unsuitable areas are just some of the issues we face. Every construction project today results in the loss of trees and vegetation, and the loss is permanent. Potted decorative palm trees are often passed off as 'compensatory plantation,' but the Tree Preservation Authority, which is supposed to protect trees, only clears proposals for their removal. High court-monitored committees have confirmed that compensatory afforestation claims are hollow, and we are steadily losing our trees.
Mumbai's trees no longer resemble trees. They stand like a footballer with a tuft of hair on top and sides completely shaven. All branches are mercilessly trimmed, even during the nesting season of birds. The base of every tree is concretized, and without enough soil to anchor itself, trees are toppling over one by one. Temperatures in the city are soaring, and the stifling atmosphere makes it difficult to breathe. Buildings jostle for space, preventing any air circulation. To see the sky or experience the wind, one must go to the seafront, which is now laden with chemicals from vehicular exhaust.
Mangrove areas like Malwani and Dahisar have been extensively encroached upon. Citizens have fought long battles to secure mangroves and have managed to get areas transferred to the forest department. However, this success is temporary, as every project that destroys mangroves is often allowed by the same judiciary that protected them. The absurdity is best understood when permissions are given to remove mangroves in Mumbai, with compensatory plantation to be done in Palghar.
Solid waste management is a sore point. The BMC operates the largest dumping ground for unsegregated municipal waste in the state on 121 hectares of salt marsh, mangrove, and mudflats at Kanjurmarg. This mismanagement of waste masquerades as a scientific waste management site. What is scientific about leaving waste to rot in the open? Lakhs of citizens breathe foul air within a 5 km radius of the site. The Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary continues to receive untreated sewage and effluents. The entire coastline, including the beaches, is severely contaminated with untreated sewage, and visitors frolic in these sewage-infested waters. The government's helplessness in implementing the Maharashtra Non-Degradable Garbage Control Act to tackle the plastic menace will soon make the city a stinky eyesore with significant health hazards for citizens.
The Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) continues to be eaten away by slums. The rivers of Mumbai—Mithi, Dahisar, Poisar, and Oshiwara—have been transformed into waste discharge channels. The riversides are not meant for leisure or even visible. Buildings have come up next to the rivers due to so-called flood control measures taken by urban development authorities. The rivers were walled in even inside forested areas, exclusively to create land for real estate. Natural areas like Aarey and Vihar Lake continue to be deliberately neglected, with the hope that they will eventually be handed over to real estate. Vihar Lake is a classic example of how a natural area used by thousands of families has been kept out of bounds for citizens under the guise of security concerns.
The problems are numerous. We stand next to the bed of a seriously ill patient (the city of Mumbai). What we do next will determine whether the patient makes a full recovery or perishes. It seems like a losing battle, but no war is lost until the last battle is lost. The problem with Mumbai is that it is almost like a nulliparous city with no children of its own. Most of the population is busy feeding off it without caring for it. Until a sense of bonding and responsibility dawns upon the citizens and the choice of leaders reflects this emotion, it is downhill for Mumbai. A one-day celebration of World Environment Day is tokenism at its best. It is time to walk the talk. Whether Mumbaikars are willing to do that will determine whether the patient recovers or perishes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current state of Mumbai's environment?
Mumbai's environment is in a critical state, marked by deforestation, wetland reclamation, polluted rivers, and poor waste management. The city's natural areas are being destroyed, and the air and water quality are severely degraded.
How is the Tree Preservation Authority contributing to the environmental crisis?
The Tree Preservation Authority, instead of protecting trees, often clears proposals for their removal. High court-monitored committees have confirmed that compensatory afforestation claims are hollow, leading to a steady loss of trees.
What are the major issues with Mumbai's waste management?
Mumbai's waste management is poor, with the BMC operating the largest unsegregated municipal waste dumping ground in the state. The waste is left to rot in the open, causing significant air pollution and health hazards for residents.
How are Mumbai's rivers and water bodies being affected?
Mumbai's rivers, such as Mithi, Dahisar, Poisar, and Oshiwara, have been transformed into waste discharge channels. The riversides are not visible and are often used for construction, further exacerbating the problem.
What can Mumbaikars do to improve the environment?
Mumbaikars can take practical steps by reducing waste, supporting local environmental initiatives, and demanding better governance and policies from their leaders. A collective effort is needed to reverse the environmental degradation.
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