LARGE-SCALE DESTRUCTION
In October 2013, local fisherman Ramdas Koli moved NGT , western bench, drawing attention to the impact of developmental projects by govt agencies in tidal basins. He said the projects had affected livelihood of 1,630 families
In March 2015, in a landmark order, NGT ordered JNPT, Cidco and ONGC to pay ₹95.19 crore to the 1,630 families in three months. However, the respondents managed to get a stay order from the Supreme Court (SC)
In August 2015, SC bench of Justice Arun Mishra and Justice Amitav Roy ordered the agencies
Other violations
Near JNPT storage terminal, close to Belpada village in Uran taluka, 289 hectare of mangroves is being destroyed by dumping debris.
When HT visited the site, 14 large mounds of debris and
to comply with NGTS order and directed the body to pay the compensation to the fishing communities. While JNPT claims it paid ₹64 crore to the SC registrar, Koli’s counsel said the matter is unresolved. The next hearing is on July 23.
Destruction of mangrove forests across the state and construction within 50m of mangrove areas was banned by the Bombay high court in 2005, after a public interest litigation (PIL) by the Bombay Environment Action Group. In 2014, based on a PIL filed by environment group Vanashakti, the HC banned reclamation and construction on wetlands. mud was spotted just at the edge of the mangrove patch
Also found were stacks of hacked mangrove trees that were hidden from public view.