Uran wetlands: State files FIR against JNPT
The state mangroves committee on Saturday said officers from the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) have been booked for destroying 4,550 mangrove trees across 4.5 hectares, near Hovercraft Jetty in Uran, Navi Mumbai.
The member secretary of the committee told HT that JNPT was booked for violating the Environment Protection Act, 1986, and various orders of the Bombay HC by cutting off tide water. “After sending several reminders to the Raigad district administration, we have been told that an FIR was filed against JNPT. We have given the administration time till the next mangroves committee meeting in December to submit a follow-up,” said JR Gowda, member secretary, state mangroves committee. JNPT officers said they were not aware of any case. “However, as per the HC directions, tidal water blockages have been opened and the site has been restored,” a senior JNPT officer said. HT had first identified the violation in June 2018 when large tracts of mangrove trees in Uran were either destroyed owing to JNPT construction work.
Meanwhile, the chief minister’s office on Saturday asked the state urban development department and ports department to look into cases of mangrove destruction in Uran after environmentalists wrote to Devendra Fadnavis this month. “The departments have been asked to submit reports to CMO on the severity of the alleged violations at the earliest,” a state official said. “From Panje wetlands to Dastan node, and several areas across Uran, Hanuman Koliwada, Gavhan, and Belpada , the Cidco and JNPT have wiped out major mangrove areas. We hope there will be some action,” said BN Kumar, an environmentalist from Navi Mumbai. Gowda also added that Cidco has been issued express directions to protect the Panje wetlands. “We are not sure whether Dastan node is a wetland.” BADRI CHATTERJEE
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