Context: Earlier this month, the Centre approved the transfer of 256 acres of salt pan land in Mumbai to the Dharavi Redevelopment Project Pvt Ltd (DRPPL).
What are salt pan lands?
- They are the low-lying lands majorly found in the coastal states
- When sea water intrudes in these areas they bring salts with them. When the sea water recedes, it leaves the salts as well as minerals on these lands.
What is the present regulation status of these salt pans?
- According to the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification of 2011, the ecologically sensitive salt pans fall under CRZ-1B category, where no economic activity is allowed with the exception of salt extraction and natural gas exploration.
Why salt pans are important?
- They are the best source of salt production
- They act as water storage tanks during heavy rainfall
- They prevent coastal flooding by accumulating the sea water
- They support biodiversity including halophilic microbes, bacteria, algae, and salt marsh vegetation.
- These area are known for wildlife conservation also, e.g. Traditional salt workers (agariyas) in Kuchh contributed to wild ass conservation