DNA: Mumbai: Monday, January 13, 2014.
The state’s
mangrove cell, set up in 2011 to protect and expand the mangrove cover across
the state, seems to be shrugging its responsibility and letting agencies both
government and private destroy mangroves in and around Mumbai.
A reply to an
RTI application has revealed that in 2012-13, the cell received 93 complaints
from people informing forest officials about mangrove destruction in the city.
Requesting
anonymity, a forest official told dna that of 93 complaints received, only five
were converted into cases or First Offence Reports (FORs). Three of the five
instances were related to blocking natural flow to mangroves, which the
department officials initiated action against.
The response
to the RTI application states that the cell had received complaints
highlighting the problem from various sources, one of which was from
environmentalist Debi Goenka, who complained about destruction of mangroves
near Vasai (west).
Similar
problems the dumping of solid waste at Kalwa, Kausa and Mumbra, illegal chawl
mafia and officials’ nexus in large-scale construction on the few remaining
green patches in Charkop, Kandivli and other places were also brought to light.
A complaint
was received against Ajmera Builders for undertaking illegal construction in protected
forest land.
What’s more
shocking is that the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority, a state
agency, is contributing to destruction of mangroves. The development body
carried out construction activity on mangroves at Anik-Kurla and the mangrove
cell favoured them by delaying the investigation which was supposed to nail
them.
Mangroves
were also destroyed during the widening of the Mankhurd-Panvel Road and
Ghodbunder Road to Vasai Highway.
The official
added that earlier there was only one range forest officer to investigate the
numerous cases but now one more has been brought on board. However, he said
they still lack manpower to verify complaints.
Moreover,
they are handicapped as several of these mangroves are on plots which fall under
the revenue or collector’s jurisdiction. “The most we can do is bring the issue
to the notice of authorities concerned,” said the official.