Forest dept cautions BMC about corals

IN JULY 2019, HC HAD QUESTIONED BMC ON RECLAMATION ACTIVITY WITHOUT OBTAINING NOD UNDER WPA

MUMBAI: The forest department has cautioned the civic body about the threat to corals due to reclamation activity for the Coastal Road. The move comes following repeated complaints filed by residents, environmentalists and marine biologists over the safety of coral diversity.

Corals are marine invertebrates that attach themselves to rocky intertidal regions or the ocean floor. They are given the same protection status as that of a tiger or an elephant (schedule-1) under the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA), 1972.

Citing the presence of corals, in July 2019, the Bombay high court had questioned BMC on reclamation activity without obtaining clearances.

The mangrove cell under the forest department issued a letter recently to BMC reminding them about coral protection status under wildlife laws. “Corals have been reported from the Coastal Road project site, off Mahalaxmi, by the Mangrove Foundation, while studying intertidal coral diversity of Maharashtra,” the letter read adding, “Any act of destruction of coral shall amount to violation of the WPA.”