Slums coming up less than 50m from mangroves
MUMBAI : Kharghar residents have filed complaints with the City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco) and the state government, alleging slums are coming up in mangrove forests in Sector 8.
“The satellite images (see image) clearly show the slums are less than 50 metres from mangroves. The trees are hacked daily and new structures and being built. We have discussed the matter with Cidco and the local municipal body, but the complaints have fallen on deaf ears,” said Shashank Datwani, a resident of the area.
Noting the public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Bombay Environment Action Group in 2005, the Bombay high court (HC) banned construction within 50 metres of mangroves and prohibited their destruction.
Datwani said that in 2014, similar encroachments had cropped up but closer to the apartment complexes.
“Repeated complaints ensured the shanties were removed but now the pace at which these structures are increasing, we will very soon have our own Dharavi,” he said.
The state’s wetland grievance committee said they had already issued directions to Cidco to destroy the structures.
“We are awaiting Cidco’s response to our directions. Another reminder will be sent to them,” said JR Gowda, deputy conservator of forest, state mangrove cell and member secretary of the committee.
An official from Cidco refused to comment on the issue and said, “Our action taken report will be submitted during the next wetland grievance meeting.”
Meanwhile, Konkan commissioner and chairman of the wetland grievance committee, Jagdish Patil, said that they were going to tie up with the Maharashtra Remote Application Centre (MRSAC) to resolve such cases faster.
“We have asked the MRSAC to develop maps identifying the 50-metre boundary [around] protected the mangrove forests, which will help us identify such violations faster and take necessary action under the Environment Protection Act, 1986,” said Patil.