FIGHT TO SAVE VERSOVA MANGROVES PENALTY

NOVEMBER 2015: Yari Road residents protest the illegal dumping of debris in mangroves by 20 trucks and identify 120 illegal hutments in the mangrove forest area. State environment minister asks the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and collector to remove the debris as well as illegal hutments. No FIR is filed JANUARY TO DECEMBER 2016: Isolated cases of debris dumping and fires reported from residential areas

JANUARY 18, 19 AND 25, 2017: HT reports on the complaints regarding recurring fires at the mangrove patch on private land. HT reporters find the shanties have electric supply, direct-tohome television services and mobile toilets. The shanty owners tell reporters they don’t pay rent and are protected by local politicians. Taking note of the reports, the district administration starts an anti-encroachment drive in February and March, but all shanties return within two months

MARCH: Yari Road Bachao group files complaints and meets department heads of the state mangrove cell, district administration, revenue department, BMC, Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority, and Mumbai police to highlight the need to protect mangrove forests

JANUARY 2018: Actor Randeep Hooda takes to Twitter, highlighting a case of mangrove

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