By Dinesh Kamath
NAVI MUMBAI: There are
some environmentalists who have complained about heightened sand mining and
dredging operations in neighbouring areas of Navi Mumbai. Similar activities
are also taking place in rural areas of Thane and Raigad. These activities are
taking place in spite of the National Green Tribunal having banned the use of
heavy-duty machines to dredge or mine sand.
Suction pumps were seen
being used in the Vasai creek in Thane (rural). There is an urgent need of
regular patrolling by the concerned authorities in the coastal areas to stop
this rampant degradation of wetlands.
The Maharashtra Coastal
Zone Management Authority and the Maharashtra Maritime Board, Navi Mumbai have
been receiving complaints relating to these activities. The complainants have
asked these authorities to take immediate action. They also complained about several
trucks which were ferrying the sand from CRZ areas and thus violating the court
orders. There is a need for authorities to take resort to confiscating of boats
and suction pumps.
There is a need for
forming and implementing legislations to check illegal sand mining. The police
should keep a track of where the sand supplies are coming from and find out the
details of the truck or tempo drivers ferrying the sand.
The environmentalists grumble
that such activities will only lead to brazen degradation of nature and hence
manual and regular checks in coastal areas are extremely necessary.
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