Defiant Navi Mumbai residents
Just recently over 300 Navi Mumbai residents got their hands and feet dirty to save a lake and mangroves at Seawoods in Nerul. Carrying shovels and troughs, they filled four dumpers with debris that they dug out from near DPS Lake, in a span of two hours.
Some miscreants in the area - who wanted the lake to dry up to make way for construction - had been dumping debris at the inlet of a pipeline that connects DPS Lake to Navi Mumbai creek.
During high tide, water from the creek flows into the lake, and goes back into the creek during low tide. This flow of water that ensures bio-diversity is maintained and helps mangroves flourish. But some people were dumping debris so that the area was no longer a wetland and buildings could come up here. The debris were dumped there to plug water flow to mangroves
Navi Mumbai is one of the few cities in the world that is marginally below sea level and hence it is extremely important that mangroves are protected, as they prevent erosion and protect from storm surge.
These residents who were desperately trying to save the lake had earlier approached Navi Mumbai planning authority CIDCO to solve the issue. But CIDCO ignored the issue and hence these residents decided to step in and make a difference themselves.
Today they are not angry, they are happy to have done their bit. Their message is that they will do whatever it takes to protect their environment. They did their job peacefully and did not demonstrate against anyone. Those who had gathered to help included senior citizens, women, and a number of children. Many people had even come from Vashi, Airoli, Chembur and Nerul to volunteer. The group also included 70-year-old man, who recently had recovered from a paralytic attack, as well as another resident who was undergoing chemotherapy. Everybody wore white caps that read 'Save Lake'.
Long time back, CIDCO had tried to fill this 33-acre lake so the land could be sold, but their attempt was halted when former chief minister Ashok Chavan intervened.
As part of their campaign, residents filed RTI queries, which revealed that CIDCO was calling the area a high FSI plot. But one must admire the brave way in which these residents defied the CIDCO authorities. They have set an example for other Navi Mumbai residents to follow.
Just recently over 300 Navi Mumbai residents got their hands and feet dirty to save a lake and mangroves at Seawoods in Nerul. Carrying shovels and troughs, they filled four dumpers with debris that they dug out from near DPS Lake, in a span of two hours.
Some miscreants in the area - who wanted the lake to dry up to make way for construction - had been dumping debris at the inlet of a pipeline that connects DPS Lake to Navi Mumbai creek.
During high tide, water from the creek flows into the lake, and goes back into the creek during low tide. This flow of water that ensures bio-diversity is maintained and helps mangroves flourish. But some people were dumping debris so that the area was no longer a wetland and buildings could come up here. The debris were dumped there to plug water flow to mangroves
Navi Mumbai is one of the few cities in the world that is marginally below sea level and hence it is extremely important that mangroves are protected, as they prevent erosion and protect from storm surge.
These residents who were desperately trying to save the lake had earlier approached Navi Mumbai planning authority CIDCO to solve the issue. But CIDCO ignored the issue and hence these residents decided to step in and make a difference themselves.
Today they are not angry, they are happy to have done their bit. Their message is that they will do whatever it takes to protect their environment. They did their job peacefully and did not demonstrate against anyone. Those who had gathered to help included senior citizens, women, and a number of children. Many people had even come from Vashi, Airoli, Chembur and Nerul to volunteer. The group also included 70-year-old man, who recently had recovered from a paralytic attack, as well as another resident who was undergoing chemotherapy. Everybody wore white caps that read 'Save Lake'.
Long time back, CIDCO had tried to fill this 33-acre lake so the land could be sold, but their attempt was halted when former chief minister Ashok Chavan intervened.
As part of their campaign, residents filed RTI queries, which revealed that CIDCO was calling the area a high FSI plot. But one must admire the brave way in which these residents defied the CIDCO authorities. They have set an example for other Navi Mumbai residents to follow.
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