At first gentle, Pujan Bhende, 30, units out from Versova for the Arabian Sea in his blue fishing boat and spends at the very least 9 hours on the fringe of huge, tangled clusters of green-brown mangroves, casting his internet, checking the trapped fish and crabs because the water recedes, and repeating the method.

Fishing close to mangroves is the one supply of livelihood for about 400 fisherfolk residing at Versova, Charkop, Dahisar, Malvani, and Gorai in Mumbai.

Nonetheless, ongoing work to chop 45,675 mangroves throughout 103.6 hectares of forest land for the 23-km-long Versova-Bhayandar Coastal Highway venture has left them nervous. “When these mangroves are gone, I’ll in all probability find yourself working as a labourer,” says Mr. Bhende.