India, Feb. 5 -- The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Maharashtra Mangrove Cell and chief conservator of forests have been served a legal notice over the alleged cutting of mangroves for the Versova-Bhayandar Coastal Road project without statutory approvals and in violation of a Bombay High Court order.

The proposed arm of the coastal highway, which aims to improve north-south connectivity along Mumbai's western suburbs, passes through coastal and intertidal zones. Since these include mangroves, it requires clearance under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, approvals from the Union environment ministry and compliance with high court directions on mangrove protection, said Stalin Dayanand, director of non-profit Vanashakti, whi...