Dinesh Kamath's news item 'Environmentalists concerned about debris dumped on mangroves; Authorities promise to take appropriate action' that was published in Newsband

Environmentalists concerned about debris dumped on mangroves

Authorities promise to take appropriate action

By Dinesh Kamath

NAVI MUMBAI: There exists huge quantity of debris illegally dumped in the mangroves between Vashi and Mankhurd. The city authorities who are supposed to take appropriate action against those who dump such debris have been doing nothing about it. But just recently they have given the assurance that those debris thrown in the mangroves will soon be cleared. They have promised to remove the debris from the mangrove cover along the sea creek. This assurance has pleased the environmentalists who are waiting for the authorities to keep their promise.

These environmentalists have been corresponding with and even personally meeting the authorities to discuss over this issue relating to debris dumped over the mangroves. They have been expressing to the authorities their concern about the damage that was being caused to the mangroves owing to the dumping of debris on and around it. These debris originated from Sion-Panvel highway where some work is in progress.

What provoked the environmentalists even more was the fact that this illegal act of dumping the debris was taking place in spite of the Bombay high court order which considered it as a criminal act that should be sternly dealt with. The people who are dumping the debris are openly violating the law without fear of being penalized for their criminal act.

The Bombay high court has clearly opposed the destruction and cutting of mangroves, dumping of debris on the mangroves and the constructions that took place within 50 metres on all sides of mangroves.

Such act of destroying the mangroves is not just taking place at Vashi and Mankhurd but also in the Konkan areas and at Raigad. Here too the authorities concerned are insensitive to such damage to mangroves taking place in front of their eyes.

The civic authorities are free to take the help of state forest authorities to keep a check on mangrove destruction within their jurisdiction. The residents near those mangroves come to know first when the destruction of the greenery takes place. Their cooperation by reporting the matter immediately to the authorities can save the destruction. Even the city police can use their powers and prevent the damage of mangroves.

A resident of the city blamed the contractors who encourage their workers to dump debris among the mangroves. “These contractors are the ones to be blamed for the environmental damage. The city authorities should offer contracts only to those contractors who have environmental sense. These contractors should realize the damage that they are causing to the environment when they allow the debris to get thrown on the mangroves. Stern action should be taken against contractors who violate environmental laws,” he added.

The quantity of debris that are dumped on the mangrove belt between Vashi and Mankhurd is enormous. Here one gets the common sight where truckloads of construction debris are dumped and in the process causes slow death of eco-sensitive green cover. One of the environmentalists was horrified to see the amount of debris accumulated near Vashi toll plaza and which further spread to Sion-Panvel road. These mangroves line the creek between Vashi and Mankhurd and are gradually getting destroyed owing to the dumping of the debris.

An environmentalist said, “It is a good thing that authorities are concerned about the big number of people who ply their vehicles on Sion-Panvel road. The authorities are widening the road for their benefit. There is nothing wrong in it. But while doing the work of widening, the authorities should see to it that the debris that are formed in the process are not dumped among the mangroves nearby but they are taken to a safe place far away, where no environmental damage can take place, and dumped over there.”

Another environmentalist said, “The forest officers who are posted at the place where dumping on the mangroves is taking place should use all their powers to prevent such happening and contribute towards the cause of saving environment. Even the residents around the place where the law is being violated should inform about the environmental damage that is being caused by the anti-social elements.”

Some environmentalists in the city are planning to stage an agitation to force the authorities to take appropriate action against those who destroy the environment. They will inform the authorities about the debris that are being dumped at the wrong places at Vashi, Nerul, Raigad and Konkan areas and urge them to take immediate action against the culprits.