MUMBAI: Maharashtra's Mangrove Reserved Forest cover is set to increase to 18,000 hectares after the state government issued a gazette notification declaring its intention to reserve 1,022 hectares of mangrove land in Raigad and Thane district as Reserved Forest.
The declaration has been made under section 4 of the Indian Forest Act. The government will now appoint a Forest Settlement Officer who will invite objections/suggestions and settle claims if any on the land before finally declaring it as Reserved Forest under section 20 of the Act.
Virendra Tiwari, additional principal chief conservator of forests said, "While we have declared that 18,000 hectares will be Reserved Forest, final notification under section 20 has been issued in case of 11,549 hectares. Total land with forest department is 14,000 hectares."
