‘Uran not a wetland, no need to mark it as protected zone’
Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) has told the Maharashtra forest department that the Belpada area in Uran should not be declared a protected zone. This comes after the mangrove cell, earlier this month, wrote to JNPT conveying its intention of declaring the area a conservation reserve. However, JNPT’S response on May 15, which was shared by the forest department, states the site was ‘erroneously termed as a wetland’.
JNPT’S letter highlighted the Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules 2017 do not include river channels, paddy fields, human-made waterbodies, salt pans etc. as wetlands. “In view of the above, it is submitted that the port land appears to be erroneously termed as wetland. It is requested that this land should not be proposed as wetland under Wildlife Protection Act (WPA), 1972,” the letter undersigned by SV Madabhavi, chief manager (port, planning and development), JNPT, read. It further added, “We assure you, utmost care will be taken at the time of development of nearby area in accordance with law.”
According to Bombay Natural History Society’s (BNHS) 2019 report on the status of coastal wetlands in Navi Mumbai, the 30-hectare (ha) Belpada wetland is situated between two narrow creeks on the east and west sides and surrounded by mangroves and is home to 30 bird species.
Citing the BNHS report, the mangrove cell had proposed the site as a conservation reserve for three Uran wetlands – Panje, Bhendkhal and Belpada. Cidco is yet to respond to the forest department’s letter on the status of Panje and Bhendkhal.
Virendra Tiwari, additional principal chief conservator of forest (mangrove cell), said, “Even though the land is in possession of JNPT, it is still government land. It serves the purpose for everyone if they (JNPT) protect this area as a wetland and ensure no development at the site.”
Of the 2,987 ha of JNPT port land, 1,172 ha is agricultural land, 1,262 ha is salt pans, and 553 ha is government owned. The mangrove cell said Belpada is part of the 553-ha land which falls under the state’s purview.
JNPT responded to HT’S query and said the letter was written to clarify the BNHS report which shows Belpada as a wetland. “We have objected to the same stating that the land is owned by JNPT. We have all the official documents to prove that this is a commercial and agricultural land,” said a JNPT spokesperson.