Calling it one of its kind centre that will not only prove significant for students and researchers but also tourists to understand the need for conservation of wetlands, Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar inaugurated the state-of-the-art Coastal and Marine Biodiversity Centre (CMCB) at Airoli. Speaking at the event Mungantiwar said that conservation of mangroves and wetlands was extremely crucial and every Mumbaikar had a role to play and not just the Forest Department. "Monday being Maharashtra Day we will keep a free entry for any person visiting the CMCB. Also we plan to keep a special scheme under which students from BMC schools can visit the centre for creating awareness without any charges," announced Mungantiwar. The CMCB boasts of several interactive features as well as displays that have been built in Germany. According to Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (APCCF) Mangrove Cell, N Vasudevan the 7000 square feet centre has been divided into two parts the first section is dedicated to coastal biodiversity that will house exhibits on mangroves and the aquatic life found on the coast while the second section will showcase marine biodiversity and will have exhibits on whales, dolphins, turtles and others. “There are over 600 marine species that will be displayed at the CMCB and all the exhibits have been built in Germany and shipped to Airoli. Tourists visiting the centre can hear the sounds of whales, flamingos, dolphins as well as other species to get a better understanding of their life as well as information about marine ecology,” he said adding that the centre was a result of the Indo-German (GIZ) Project collaboration on Conservation and Sustainable Management of Marine Protected Areas.

Stay updated with all the Mumbai Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.