Maharashtra to reclaim encroached Gorai mangroves and state land through rehabilitation

On Thursday, July 9, 2026, the Maharashtra government announced a new policy initiative to reclaim encroached mangrove, forest, CIDCO, and state lands, including vital coastal mangroves in Gorai. Under this policy, the state will rehabilitate eligible occupants instead of regularising illegal settlements, allowing the government to restore environmentally sensitive areas.

Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule announced the decision in the Legislative Assembly. He stated that a statewide survey of people who settled on these lands prior to the cut-off date of January 1, 2011, will be launched immediately and completed within the next three months.

Once the survey is completed, eligible land occupants will be considered for formal housing rehabilitation under existing state housing schemes. These include initiatives managed by the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) and the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA).

This policy represents a significant shift in how the state handles informal settlements on public and ecologically sensitive properties. Rather than regularising these illegal settlements, the administration is focusing on reclaiming the land while providing alternative housing solutions for the eligible families.

The policy targets four specific categories of land: mangrove land, forest land, CIDCO land, and other state or Central government land. By clearing these areas, the state government aims to free up and restore ecologically critical zones. This includes vital natural buffers, such as the mangroves in Gorai, which play a crucial role in protecting the region from coastal flooding and erosion.

The government has set a firm three-month deadline to complete the survey of eligible encroachers, ensuring that those who qualify under the January 1, 2011 cut-off are identified for relocation to formal housing units.