OREANDA-NEWS. October 4, 2012. In a first-of-its-kind initiative by the corporate sector, Tata Power has come forward to conserve the coastal biodiversity of the city with plans to plant and regenerate mangroves.

In an interaction with the editorial staff of The Indian Express on Tuesday, chief conservator of forests (mangrove cell) N Vasudevan said Tata Power has proposed plantation and regeneration of mangroves on 25 hectares in Navi Mumbai.

The project will be taken up on 25 hectares of a 120-hectare plot of degraded forest land with scattered mangroves of the Palm Beach Road by Tata Power through NGO MS Swaminathan Research Foundation.

“It started with a transmission line proposal in the area that Tata Power had sent to the Centre in which they included a voluntary proposal to plant 25,000 mangrove seedlings. When they approached me with the concept, I suggested looking at area restoration. After surveying a lot of land, we found this tract,” said Vasudevan. “The proposal includes both regeneration of mangroves and plantation, which will be about 50,000 seedlings rather than the proposed 25,000,” he said. Confirming the project, Tata Power spokesperson Shalini Singh said, “We have voluntarily proposed conservation, protection and rehabilitation of mangroves.”

According to the project proposal prepared by the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation, a two-pronged strategy will be adopted. “For regeneration of mangroves, blockages will be cleared and tidal water allowed to come in. In the blank areas, plantation of different species of mangroves will be undertaken,” said Vasudevan. Local people will be involved in plantation, training for which will be provided by experts brought in by the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation.

Vasudevan has forwarded the proposal to the Principal Conservator of Forests, Nagpur after which it will reach the state government for approval. The MS Swaminathan Research Foundation is implementing it under the supervision of the forest department and Tata Power is funding the project, which is estimated to cost around Rs 55 lakh.

“Such proposals are approved by a committee under the Chief Secretary. It will take a decision when the proposal reaches it. We support such positive projects. I will follow this issue myself,” said Praveen Pardeshi, Principal Secretary (Forest), when contacted.

Environmentalists have welcomed the initiative. “It is very rare for corporates to be involved in such projects. I compliment the effort to increase the diversity of mangroves by planting different species. However, care should be taken that in an effort to increase mangrove cover, we do not lose out on wetlands, which is also important for the ecosystem,” said Stalin D, Project Director, NGO Vanashakti.