The Maharashtra government has proposed the removal of “Natural Area” status from approximately 20,000 square meters of land within Mumbai’s Salt Pan Division. This initiative, detailed in a notification issued by the Urban Development Department (UDD) on September 5, 2025, aims to facilitate the construction of an IAS officers’ gymkhana and a government warehouse designated for Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines.
The notification, issued under Section 37(1AA) of the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) Act, 1966, invites public objections and suggestions within one month. If approved, the proposal would modify the sanctioned Development Plan–2034 of Greater Mumbai, reclassifying the land from a “Natural Area” to an “R Zone,” thereby permitting the development of these facilities. The state government is reviewing reserved “Natural Areas” to accommodate public-use projects, and this proposal follows a series of communications among relevant departments.
Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/maharashtra-govt-proposes-removing-natural-area-tag-from-two-salt-pan-land-10288080/