NGO blames wetland destruction for Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway flooding in Vasai-Virar

The environmental NGO Vanashakti has blamed the recurring flooding of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway in the Vasai-Virar region of Palghar district on years of unchecked destruction of wetlands, mangroves, and low-lying areas. The organization raised these concerns in a letter sent to Maharashtra Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik and other senior state officials on July 11, 2026, following severe waterlogging that disrupted traffic on the highway on the preceding Wednesday.

According to the environmental group, the severe waterlogging that crippled one of Maharashtra's busiest highway routes during recent heavy rains is a direct consequence of illegal reclamation. Vanashakti alleged that its repeated complaints regarding the destruction of these crucial natural ecosystems have been systematically ignored by state authorities for over a decade.

In its communication to Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik and other senior administration officials, the NGO pointed out that the ongoing official inaction has allowed illegal reclamation activities to continue unabated in the Vasai-Virar region. This environmental degradation has severely impacted the highway's natural drainage capacity, leading to repeated flooding incidents during the monsoon season.

The impact of this environmental destruction was highly visible on Wednesday, when heavy rains lashed the Palghar district. Vehicles were forced to navigate through deep water on the waterlogged highway, causing significant disruptions to traffic on the vital transit route.

Vanashakti has urged state officials to address the root causes of the flooding by halting illegal reclamation and protecting the remaining wetlands, mangroves, and low-lying areas in the Vasai-Virar region. The group maintains that without immediate official intervention to address the decade-long neglect, one of the state's busiest highways will continue to face severe disruptions during heavy rainfall.