Maharashtra’s tree cover rises but forests shrink, rivers more polluted

Maharashtrarsquos environmental health presents a mixed picture with an increase in tree cover and encouraging gains in wildlife conservation even as core forests shrink and pollution levels in major rivers continue to rise according to the statersquos Economic Survey 2025ndash26 tabled in the legislature on Thursday reported news agency PTIThe survey highlights that while initiatives such as social forestry programmes urban greening projects and conservation measures have improved certain ecological indicators growing urbanisation forest degradation and insufficient sewage treatment infrastructure continue to exert pressure on the statersquos environmentForest cover remains below national benchmarkAccording to the survey Maharashtrarsquos total forest cover currently stands at 50859 square kilometres accounting for 165 per cent of the statersquos geographical area of 307713 sq km This remains significantly lower than the 33 per cent benchmark recommended under the National Forest Policy reported PTIThe report also notes that the state recorded a decline of 5447 sq km in forest cover compared to the 2021 assessmentImportantly the survey clarifies that forest area and tree cover are distinct environmental indicators Forest area refers to land legally notified as forest by the government including reserved and protected forests These areas may not necessarily contain dense vegetation and could include degraded land wetlands or alpine grasslands reported PTITree cover on the other hand refers to clusters of trees less than one hectare in size or scattered trees outside designated forests such as roadside plantations canalside trees or small patches in agricultural fieldsMaharashtra leads India in tree cover outside forestsDespite the decline in forest cover Maharashtra ranks first in the country in terms of tree cover outside forest areasThe India State of Forest Report 2023 estimates that the state has 14525 sq km of tree cover representing 47 per cent of its geographical area This figure has grown steadily in recent years mdash from 10806 sq km in 2019 to 12108 sq km in 2021 and further to 14525 sq km in 2023 reported PTIThe survey attributes this increase largely to social forestry initiatives plantation drives and urban greening programmes implemented across the stateHowever environmental experts cited in the survey caution that increased tree cover does not fully compensate for the ecological damage caused by the degradation of natural forests which play a crucial role in biodiversity conservation carbon storage and maintaining ecological balanceMangroves and wildlife conservation show progressThe survey notes some encouraging developments in conservation effortsMaharashtra currently has 31509 sq km of mangrove cover accounting for around 63 per cent of Indiarsquos total mangrove area To strengthen protection the state government has notified 11548 hectares of mangroves as reserved forests reported PTIWildlife conservation has also yielded positive results The statersquos tiger population increased from 312 in 2018 to 444 in 2022 reflecting the impact of habitat protection and conservation programmesRising pollution levels in major riversDespite these gains the survey raises serious concerns about water pollution in major rivers particularly those flowing through urban centresData from the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board shows that the Mithi River in Mumbai continues to record extremely high pollution levels with biochemical oxygen demand BOD at 1018 mg per litre and faecal coliform levels at 18822 mg per litre reported PTISimilarly the MulaMutha River in Pune remains heavily polluted with high levels of BOD and faecal contamination due to untreated sewage and urban waste dischargeSewage treatment gap remains a key challengeA major contributor to river pollution is the gap in sewage treatment capacity across the stateThe survey states that only 514 per cent of the sewage generated in Maharashtra was treated during 2025ndash26 up to December meaning nearly half of the wastewater continues to flow untreated into rivers and other water bodiesHowever the state has performed relatively better in solid waste management Of the 544 lakh metric tonnes of solid waste generated daily in 2024ndash25 about 818 per cent was processed or treated according to the reportEnvironmental initiatives struggle against rapid urbanisationThe state government has launched several initiatives to strengthen environmental protection including the lsquoMajhi Vasundhara Abhiyaanrsquo which involves more than 27000 gram panchayats in efforts to promote environmental awareness improve waste management and expand green cover reported PTINevertheless the survey suggests that while these initiatives have produced visible improvements in areas such as tree plantations and wildlife conservation they are yet to fully offset the environmental pressures created by rapid economic growth industrial expansion and urbanisation in MaharashtraWith inputs from PTI