500m of Charkop mangroves charred, 2nd incident this year
A fire broke out in a 500m-stretch of mangroves at Charkop in Kandivli on Thursday. This is the second mangrove fire this year and the tenth since 2016.
Residents alleged that unidentified people had been dumping garbage and lighting fires to clear the trees and build illegal shanties.
“It took the fire department an hour to douse the fire this time. These incidents are on the rise as there are people who want to enter the protected areas illegally and construct structures,” said Mili Shetty, Charkop resident.
She added, “Since temperatures are rising and the leaves are dry, the wind blowing fast on this stretch allows the fire to spread faster.”
The fire was doused after residents saw smoke emanating from the stretch behind a compound wall where mangrove trees were ablaze, and informed the Mumbai fire brigade.
“We have been receiving regular calls from residents complaining about fires, especially from sector 8. There is a lot of garbage that is dumped at the site, which leads to the recurring fires,” said an official from the Mumbai fire control.
In the first week of February, a number of mangrove trees caught fire at the same location. It took two hours to douse.
State mangrove cell officials said that the residents had been told not to dump garbage at the site.
“Mangrove trees do not catch fire easily as they have a lot of water stored near the roots. Since this area is not marked as a reserved forest, it does not fall under our jurisdiction, but we will inform the police and civic body to sensitise citizens,” said Makarand Ghodke, assistant conservator of forest, Mumbai Mangrove Conservation Unit.
Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials said that the issue was a matter of concern and they had already initiated action.
“We have instructed a team to patrol the area, fine anyone who is found dumping garbage and identify the ones responsible for lighting fires. A letter will be dispatched to the local police station so that they can look into the matter,” said Sahebrao Gaikwad, ward officer of R south.