Mumbai To Resurvey Landslide-Prone Zones Amid Monsoon Fears

Protective Work Initiated At 249 Locations; IIT-Powai Assisting BMC On Safety Strategy

Mumbai, July 9 – In a bid to prevent monsoon disasters, the Maharashtra government will conduct a fresh geological survey of landslide-prone zones across Mumbai, especially in hillock-dense urban areas, Disaster Management Minister Girish Mahajan informed the State Assembly today. The move comes amid increasing concern about the safety of residents living in sloped and vulnerable regions.

Responding to a query by MLA Sunil Raut, Mahajan revealed that the Geological Survey of India (GSI) had previously identified 249 sensitive sites during a 2017 study, of which 74 were marked as hazardous, and 46 as highly dangerous. Shockingly, 40 out of those 46 fall within Mumbai suburban limits.

“Based on IIT-Powai’s technical guidance, the state has already undertaken major preventive works at many of these locations,” said Mahajan. Measures like geo-netting, protective retaining walls, and structural reinforcements have been implemented in key risk zones like Suryanagar in Vikhroli.

So far, ₹11.63 crore has been allocated for 47 protection works, of which 45 are completed and 2 are in advanced stages. The MSRDC (Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation), in coordination with BMC, is tasked with rapid execution of pending geo-netting works using emergency funds.

In addition, between 2022–24, the state sanctioned 177 protection projects in danger zones like Ghatkopar and Bhandup — of these, 113 are complete, 38 are ongoing, and 26 are in tendering phase.

Minister Mahajan assured that funding will not be a constraint. “Every landslide-prone area will be secured with adequate infrastructure, and continuous surveys will guide further intervention,” he added.