L&T has planted mangroves across 150 hectares in Karanj and Hansot, Gujarat, through its Blue Carbon initiative. This effort has boosted farmer incomes and enhanced ecological balance, providing a sustainable livelihood while restoring biodiversity and protecting the coastal environment.
The coastal villages of Karanj and Katpor in Surat’s Hansot block are enveloped by a thriving mangrove forest, a lush sea of green. Once nearly barren wasteland just 15 years ago, these areas have since transformed, offering villagers a sustainable livelihood and improving their economic well-being.
“The growth of mangroves has helped increase the income of both farmers and fishermen, with improved crop yields leading to higher profits. What was once a barren area has now become a thriving ecosystem, benefiting not only the community but also the environment. The mangroves have even attracted new species of birds and animals to the villages, adding to the region’s biodiversity,” says Babubhai Rathod, former sarpanch and a resident of Karanj.
This mangrove plantation was carried out by L&T as part of their Blue Carbon initiative — in collaboration with the Gujarat Ecology Commission (GEC) — and implemented through a community-based village organisation across more than 150 hectares of land.
Completed in 2015, the mangroves have since become vital to the villagers, providing resources such as fodder, fuelwood, and supporting fishing activities. Additionally, the mangroves act as a natural barrier, preventing saltwater from encroaching on farmlands and protecting crops, which in turn improves crop quality.
L&T’s focus, in line with ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) parameters, is to minimise the environmental impact of their manufacturing, operations, and processes. Through green initiatives like the Blue Carbon project, it is actively working towards achieving carbon neutrality by 2040.
Making waves — environmentally and economically
Mangroves are vital tropical plants that thrive in coastal ecosystems under conditions most timber cannot tolerate. They play a crucial role in storing large amounts of carbon and protecting shorelines and their inhabitants from damaging winds, waves, and floods. Additionally, mangroves help prevent salinity and seawater intrusion into agricultural areas, improving crop quality and enabling farmers to thrive.
Located on the banks of the Tapti river, L&T started the mangrove plantation in 2009. Initially launched as a compensatory afforestation project to preserve coastal environmental integrity near L&T’s A M Naik Heavy Engineering Complex in Hazira, Surat, the initiative has grown beyond its original scope.
While it began with the mandated 50 hectares in Mandvi taluka’s Karanj village, the positive impact of the mangroves on the local community inspired further expansion of the plantation. And so, this was followed by another 100 hectares of land in Hansot block’s Katpor village. Both projects were undertaken along with the GEC, the nodal agency for such activities in the state.
According to estimates by L&T, there is a potential for almost 20 to 30 tonnes of carbon being sequestered per hectare of land.
Mangroves play a significant role in the economic activities of the local community and therefore, the locals from the coastal area of Katpor were actively involved in the entire process. The GEC collaborated with a local community-based organisation, Katpor Tamvar Vikas Samiti, to oversee the project. The villagers were trained in every aspect of mangrove planting, from developing saplings to managing and maintaining the plantations. The GEC also raised awareness among the villagers about the environmental importance of mangroves, ensuring that they were well-equipped to manage and maintain the afforestation efforts.
Over the course of the five to six-year project, more than 10,000 workdays were generated, providing significant employment opportunities. Many women from the community played a key role in various processes — including seed collection, manual sowing, nursery management, and more — contributing to both the project’s success and their own economic empowerment.
“Before the mangrove plantation, the area was a wasteland. Farmers faced a tough time as yield was low due to high salinity in the soil and salty winds leading to crop damage,” says Rathod.
Since the plantation’s completion in 2015, it has brought a transformative change to the lives of the farmers. In these two villages, farmers typically grow crops such as rice, maize, pigeon pea (tuvar dal), and fruits like mangoes. The mangrove initiative has helped improve their livelihoods and agricultural practices. “The plantation prevented saltwater from reaching the farm, preventing crop damage. The quality of crops has increased,” says Rathod.
Mangroves also facilitate prawn and shrimp farming by acting as a natural barrier against tidal surges. And besides the benefits to the farmers, the environmental benefits of this plantation are immense. This initiative is also improving coastal resilience, protecting farmland from erosion, and ensuring long-term environmental sustainability through carbon sequestration.
Moving towards a better world
“The Blue Carbon initiative is part of L&T’s larger vision of working towards a better planet. Beyond mangroves, the company is working towards ambitious environmental goals, including achieving carbon neutrality by 2040 (ahead of the Paris Agreement) and water neutrality by 2035. The company has planted four million saplings in FY 2023-24, 2.5 million of which were planted in August 2023 through ‘Project GreenHands’ across 559 project sites,” says Anup Sahay, Head – Corporate Strategy and Special Initiatives, L&T.
L&T has already planted 13 million saplings so far and continues to advance green business offerings, such as clean energy and mobility projects. As per the company’s Annual Report 2023-24, its green business offerings have helped avoid carbon dioxide emissions to the tune of one million tonnes annually from the assets created for clients during FY 2021-22 and FY 2022-23.
This mangrove project is part of L&T’s broader commitment to environmental stewardship, offering promise for both communities and ecosystems. Today, the villagers are planting mangroves whenever they can, informs Rathod, exemplifying the efforts towards a better future.
This article is in partnership with L&T
Edited by Pranita Bhat
