In a controversial move, a 13,843.82-square-metre salt pan land parcel in Wadala, Mumbai is set to be converted from a natural area to a residential zone for a gymkhana designated for bureaucrats. This decision follows a notification issued by the state’s urban development department on April 1, under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, 1966. The land was initially proposed for a BEST bus depot or for the rehabilitation of project-affected people (PAPs), but the government has shifted its focus. Additionally, another 6,475-square-metre plot has been repurposed for constructing a godown for VVPAT and EVM machines. The district collector had previously requested the removal of the natural area designation for these parcels to facilitate 'public purposes'. The conversion has sparked concerns regarding the diminishing natural spaces in Mumbai, particularly given that nearby land is being developed for a housing society for IAS and IPS officers.