Thane youth gather for screening of Mumbai mangrove protection documentary
On a Saturday evening, nearly 50 young citizens gathered in Thane to watch the screening of a new documentary detailing the community-led struggle to protect Mumbai's mangrove ecosystem. Titled 'The Last Mangroves of Mumbai: Mumbai’s Fight for Mangroves', the 75-minute film highlights the public campaign against the felling and diversion of over 45,000 mangroves for the proposed Mumbai Coastal Road (North) project.
The documentary, which marks the directorial debut of Mumbai-based musician Aruna Jade, was presented by the Save Mumbai Mangroves (SMM) citizens' movement. The audience, largely comprised of people in their 20s, watched the screening alongside featured activists, lawyers, researchers, and local fisherfolk who have been central to the environmental campaign.
Drawing on more than a year of archival footage, public hearings, protests, and official records, the film pieces together the citizens' campaign in their own words. It focuses on the environmental impact of the ₹22,000 crore, 26.3-km Versova-Bhayandar Coastal Road project, which is designed to connect Versova and Bhayandar.
According to project documents, the infrastructure project will affect nearly 60,000 mangroves across 103.65 hectares. This includes 45,675 mangroves approved for diversion, approximately 9,000 slated for permanent felling, and another 36,000 expected to be temporarily impacted during construction. Although the Bombay High Court cleared the proposal in December 2025—a decision upheld by the Supreme Court—campaigners continue to mobilize public support.
Director Aruna Jade explained that the documentary aims to inform residents about the long-term environmental and social consequences of the project, such as flooding risks. 'People think they’ll get four or five FSI if the project comes up,' Jade said. 'But what will you do with that FSI if the city gets submerged and your neighbourhood is flooded?'
Several prominent figures feature in the documentary, including environmentalist Debi Goenka of the Conservation Action Trust, Stalin N Dayanand of Vanashakti, urban researcher Hussain Indorewala, and actor Dia Mirza. Bansari Kothari of SMM, who also appears in the film, noted that the documentary examines how the civic body responded to concerns raised during public hearings.
