Ports Ministry proposes to acquire over 5,000 acres of salt pan lands in Maharashtra

NEW DELHI : The Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways initiated a proposal to acquire 5,195.894 acres of salt pan lands in Maharashtra, aiming to advance maritime and industrial infrastructure projects.

These salt pan lands are in Palghar, Vasai, Karanja, and Pen in Raigad, Belapur in Thane and Ghatkopar in Mumbai suburbs. It forms part of the Union ministry’s broader plan to repurpose large tracts of land for critical port and industrial developments, including the upcoming Vadhvan Port in Palghar district.

Salt pan lands are low-lying tracts of land where seawater periodically flows in, leaving behind deposits of salt and minerals.  This natural process plays a critical role in maintaining the balance of coastal ecosystems.

In a letter dated September 20, 2024, accessed by an English Newspaper followed by updates on October 1 and October 14, the Ministry requested the transfer of these lands from the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).

The Maharashtra parcel is part of a larger national target of 40,294.60 acres spanning states including Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Odisha.

A senior official from the salt-pan office said that the Palghar land is strategically important, particularly for the upcoming Vadhvan Port, which is poised to elevate India’s maritime trade capacity.

“The Ministry envisions utilising these lands for a range of transformative initiatives,” the official explained.