23 Mar 2026
Across India, urban expansion is steadily pushing into forests, mangroves, and river ecosystems. Projects like the Mumbai coastal road, metro expansions, and riverfront redevelopment show how development often requires cutting trees or diverting forest land. Courts and governments justify this in the name of public interest, but it raises concerns about long-term risks like flooding and heat. The pattern is clear: cities are growing by replacing natural protection systems with infrastructure.
