BIKER, YOUTH DIE IN SEPARATE ACCIDENTS

THANE: Two people died in separate accidents in Kongaon and Kalwa on Friday.

In the first accident, a35-yearold speeding biker died after he fell off his bike near the NashikBhiwandibypassroad.Inthesecond accident, a 19-year-old died after he was hit by a speeding vehicle in Kalwa.

According to the police, Raziq Khanwasridinghisbikeatahigh speedneartheNashik-Bhiwandi bypass.“Khan’sbikeskiddedand the vehicle dashed into another bike. While the other biker receivedminorleginjuries,Khan succumbedtohisheadinjuries,” said an officer from Kongaon police station.

A case has been registered against Khan for rash driving at Kongaon police station, Bhiwandi.

In the second incident, Prince Yadav was walking near Kharegaon, Kalwa, when he was hit by a speeding vehicle. “Yadav was rushed to a hospital but was declared dead on arrival. He had sustained leg injuries,” said an officerfromKalwapolicestation.

A case has been registered under section 174 of the Code of CriminalProcedureActatKalwa police station. “Further investigation is on,” said the officer.

NAVIMUMBAI: Rampantdumpingis destroyingahugeexpanseofwetland in Uran although the high court-appointed wetland committee is taking steps to save it.

OnMarch16,thewetlandcommittee directed the City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco) to remove debris fromBhendkhalwetland,around 28km from Panvel.

Bhendkhal in Uran is recognised as a wetland in National Wetland Atlas.

Cidcohadassuredthecommittee that it would lift the debris within two weeks. However, it has failed to do so.

Lastweek,wetlandcommittee membersandenvironmentalists visited Bhendkhal wetland and saw that the debris had not been removed.

D Stalin, member of wetland committee,said,“ForCidco,wetland committee does not exist, forgetaboutwetland.Whatisthe need to have the committee if Cidco does not want to follow their direction?”

The wetland attracts flamingoes and other migratory birds.

Pramod Patil, nodal officer environment, Cidco, said, “The area where debris has been dumped is not a wetland. As a safety measure, I have directed theexecutiveengineertoinstalla board barring any activity, includingdumpingnearthewetland.”

Environmentalist Nand Kumar Pawar, who has been workingtosavewetlandinMumbaiMetropolitanRegion(MMR), said, “Not asinglepieceofdebris has been liftedby Cidco, nothing has been done to restore the wetland to its original condition.”

Environmentalistsallegethat debris dumping continued during Lok Sabha and Assembly elections as the officials were busywithelectionworkandhad to time to keep watch and attend to complaints.

EnvironmentalistAkashRaje said, “Cidco is aware about the dumpingsiteandalsotheculprits buttheyhaveturnedablindeye. When the wetland committee saidthatdumpingistakingplace inthewetland,Cidcohasrefuted it.”

He added, “There should be better coordination between Cidco and the wetland committee.”

NationalwetlandAtlasMaharashtra was published in 2011. WildliferesearchgroupBombay Natural History Society(BNHS) has reiteratedthat Bhendkhalis an important wetland and any dumping or illegal activity should be stopped.

DirectorofBNHSDeepakApte said, “Bhendkhal wetland is an officiallynotifiedwetland, which plays an important role in controllingwaterflowtoBhendkhal village.Thewetlandisalsohome to many birds and any activity directly affects them.”

Many wetlands around the NaviMumbaiairportsiteinUran havebeenlevelledandreclaimed andenvironmentsarefightingto stop the destruction.

“After work on Navi Mumbai airport started, the areas have

seen unseasonal flooding, extremely hot climate and dust pollution.Thedevelopmentbody has completely failed to keep an eye on dumping,” said Sumit Patel, 36, a Uran resident.

In2014,theBombayhighcourt (HC) banned reclamation and construction on wetlands after NGO Vanashakti filed a petition to protect them.