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By:

Bhalchandra Chorghade

11 August 2025 at 1:54:18 pm

Panje wetland moves closer to legal protection

Navi Mumbai: The 289-hectare Panje-Dongari wetland in Uran, regarded by environmentalists as Maharashtra’s largest intertidal wetland, has moved a significant step closer to securing legal protection after the Raigad district administration completed a long-awaited ground verification process, environmental groups said. The development is being seen as a major milestone in the years-long campaign by conservationists to protect the ecologically sensitive wetland from reclamation and...

Panje wetland moves closer to legal protection

Navi Mumbai: The 289-hectare Panje-Dongari wetland in Uran, regarded by environmentalists as Maharashtra’s largest intertidal wetland, has moved a significant step closer to securing legal protection after the Raigad district administration completed a long-awaited ground verification process, environmental groups said. The development is being seen as a major milestone in the years-long campaign by conservationists to protect the ecologically sensitive wetland from reclamation and infrastructure-related pressures. The verification is part of the process required before wetlands can be formally notified under the Environment (Protection) Act. According to the NatConnect Foundation, the verification follows documentation by the Chennai-based National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM), which has completed the ground-truthing of nearly all the 23,000 wetlands identified across Maharashtra under the National Wetland Inventory and Assessment (NWIA), prepared using 2006-07 satellite imagery. Environmentalists have repeatedly criticised the delay in completing the verification and notification process in the state. Rising Hopes A senior official of the State Wetland Authority, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the Raigad Collector has cleared 11 of the 19 wetlands documented by NCSCM in the district, including the Panje wetland. The wetlands at Belpada and Bhendkhal have also reportedly progressed towards notification, raising hopes for their long-term conservation. The list approved by the Collector also includes wetlands in Panvel taluka at Kharghar, Taloja, Kharghar Sector 25, Kalamboli, Sinkar and Morave. However, government officials said wetlands at Sheva, Jaskhar, Murud Creek and the Mangrove Wetland Complex do not feature in the Collector’s current documents, leaving questions over their status. The Panje wetland has been at the centre of a prolonged legal and environmental battle. The Bombay Environmental Action Group (BEAG) founder and noted environmentalist Debi Goenka had earlier demonstrated, using the National Wetland Inventory and Assessment maps, that Panje qualified as a wetland despite claims to the contrary. “BEAG founder and noted environmentalist Debi Goenka was among the first to demonstrate, using the National Wetland Inventory and Assessment (NWIA) maps, that Panje qualified as a wetland despite claims to the contrary. His painstaking interpretation of the colour-coded satellite atlas greatly strengthened our case for Panje’s conservation,” said B N Kumar, Director, NatConnect Foundation. Happy Activists Welcoming the latest development, Nandakumar Pawar, Director of Sagar Shakti, who has led a prolonged legal battle to protect the wetland, said, “The 289-hectare Panje wetland is the largest intertidal wetland in the state. Its conservation is critical for protecting Uran’s fragile ecology.” Kumar described the verification as a vindication of sustained public efforts. “Panje has shown that persistence pays,” he said, while Pawar added that the focus must now shift towards securing legal protection for all of Maharashtra’s 23,000 mapped wetlands before they are lost to encroachment and development. Pawar warned that the destruction and reclamation of several wetlands in Uran, including the four-kilometre Jasai stretch, have already aggravated flooding in surrounding villages. He said extensive landfilling for the Dronagiri Node and other infrastructure projects has further worsened the ecological situation. The Collector’s report assumes significance amid continued opposition from CIDCO, which has maintained that several of these areas are former salt pans or agricultural land and are therefore suitable for development. Environmental groups, however, argue that irrespective of their historical land use, these ecosystems now perform critical ecological functions and deserve statutory protection. According to Kumar, although Panje—currently leased to NMSEZ, now NMIIA—has remained free from construction activity, the regular obstruction of tidal water flow causes the wetland to dry up periodically, threatening its ecological health. Environmental organisations including Vanashakti, Sagar Shakti, NatConnect Foundation, Navi Mumbai Environment Preservation Society, Save Navi Mumbai Environment and Kharghar Wetlands & Hills Forum have been pursuing legal and administrative interventions to secure protection for the wetlands. Highlighting their ecological importance, Pawar said wetlands not only support rich biodiversity but also serve as natural flood buffers, store significant amounts of carbon and sustain the livelihoods of traditional fishing communities. He stressed that notifying these wetlands is essential for strengthening the climate resilience of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

It’s Never Too Late to Dream

Travel opens our minds and hearts. It teaches us that new dreams are always within reach. So don’t wait — take that step.

Sumati ji, a primary school teacher and single parent from a small town, had spent her life raising her daughter and teaching children. She lived simply and selflessly, her world revolving around her students, home, and only child.


Years later, when her daughter began working, she gently urged her mother to do something for herself. “You’ve done everything for me, Ma. Now it’s your turn to live a little,” she said. Those words planted a seed. At nearly 70, Sumati ji decided to travel abroad for the first time.


In 2016, she joined my group tour to Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia — her dream destinations. But there was one obstacle — she didn’t have a passport. Having heard about me and my travel work, she called softly, “Archita, I’ve always wanted to see the world. Can you help me?”


Her sincerity touched me deeply. I guided her through the passport process, booked her seat on our TSM group, and even took her shopping for a few outfits. When she tried them on, she smiled shyly and said, “I’ll proudly wear your choice of dresses on this tour.” That simple line stayed with me — a reminder that joy can bloom at any age.


Before we left, she told me, “Archita, I want to experience everything I’ve never done before. I may never get another chance. Please guide me.” From that moment, I knew this journey would be special.


Our tour began in Singapore, a city renowned for its order, beauty, and charm. We explored Little India, Chinatown, and Merlion Park, where the half-lion, half-fish statue stands proudly by the bay. As we clicked photos, Sumati ji gazed at the skyline, eyes shining with wonder. She enjoyed her first cable car ride to Sentosa Island, waving playfully at passing cabins. By the beach, she tasted her first ice cream abroad and said with a smile, “It feels like I’m in a movie!” Her joy was infectious — soon, everyone was smiling too.


Next, we flew to Thailand, the land of smiles. In Bangkok, the group admired the Grand Palace, the Emerald Buddha, and the serene Wat Pho with its Reclining Buddha. During a boat cruise on the Chao Phraya River, a cool breeze brushed our faces as temples and city life drifted by. Sumati ji held my hand and whispered, “I can’t believe I’m really here.”


In Pattaya, we explored the lively Floating Market, full of colour, aroma, and laughter. Everyone shopped for souvenirs, tried local snacks, and bargained in broken Thai. Sumati ji laughed at her attempts, delighted when a vendor praised her smile. That evening, we watched the dazzling Alcazar Show, where music and dance lit up the stage. To everyone’s surprise, she began tapping her feet to the rhythm, and soon the whole group was clapping and dancing with her. She brought out the child in all of us.


Our final stop was Malaysia, where adventure reached new heights. In Kuala Lumpur, the group visited the Petronas Twin Towers, taking countless photos beneath their glowing lights. At Batu Caves, Sumati ji climbed a few steps slowly but proudly, cheered on by our group like family. Then came the long-awaited visit to Genting Highlands, nestled among misty hills and alive with excitement.


Among the many rides was a towering free-fall drop, nearly 20 storeys high. Most of us hesitated, staring nervously at the vertical track. Then came bursts of laughter — and there she was! Sumati ji, strapped in, riding the free-fall with her arms raised high.


To everyone’s amazement, she didn’t stop at one — she rode it four times in a row! Her silver hair flew in the wind, her face glowing with pure joy. Foreigners and locals clapped, some even taking selfies. She turned to the crowd, proudly pointing at me, and said, “Because of her, I came on this tour. I never imagined I’d do this in my life!” Our whole group applauded, many with tears in their eyes. That moment was more than travel — it was a transformation.


When we returned to India, her daughter waited at the airport, eyes brimming with tears. She hugged me tightly, kissed my forehead, and blessed me warmly. With folded hands, I touched her feet and said softly, “You are my inspiration. Be safe, be happy.”


That journey wasn’t just about Singapore, Thailand, or Malaysia. It was about courage, friendship, and discovery — about a woman who, at seventy, chose to live for herself, surrounded by a group that celebrated her every step.


After 25 years in the travel industry, I’ve learnt that travel is life’s greatest teacher. It reminds us there’s always room for new dreams. So don’t wait — take that step. Give yourself the gift of travel: meet new people, taste new food, feel new climates, and embrace the experiences waiting for you.


Our Earth is calling. The world is waiting.

(The writer is a tourism professional and runs a company, Global Voyages. She could be connected at goglobalvoyages@gmail.com. Views personal.)

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