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Judge takes stock of mangroves

Here are some news articles which reported on the site visit by the Principal Jugde Hon. Tahiliani on the 3rd of December to see the destruction caused to the environment by Jayesh Shah.

‘Bund Built On Dahisar Tract Choking Trees’
Viju B TNN

Mumbai: For the first time, the principal judge of a sessions court, along with a 50-member team, including forest officials, civic authorities, environmentalists and developers, made rounds of the 430-acre mangrove land in Dahisar for three hours, taking stock of the green tract, which is facing the threat of destruction.
The visit confirmed the allegation that a bund has been built, cutting off water flow to mangroves.
Principal judge M L Tahaliyani conducted the survey, following directives from the Supreme Court last week, when it set aside a contempt notice filed by a developer against the collector. The SC also directed the city civil court judge to submit a report on the alleged hacking of mangroves along the Gorai creek adjoining the New Link Road at Dahisar. (TOI reported it on November 25). The case refers to a developer, who has reportedly built bunds around the mangrove tract, trying to reclaim the private forest land adjoining the Gorai creek. “The inspection revealed that the entire 430 acres was encircled by a kuccha road that has blocked all the creeks as well as inlets leading into the mangrove tract, cutting off the water flow from the sea,” said Harish Pandey of New Link Road Residents Forum, who visited the site. Boulders have also been put along the inlets, blocking the sea water from flowing into the mangrove land. “We spotted large bald patches stretching 2-3 km, where mangroves had been felled by machines,” Pandey said.

According to forest officials, the stretch just outside the boundary of Survey 344 had a lush growth of mangroves, but the trees inside were dying. “Around 50 acres of mangroves have already perished as the roots of the trees can hardly breathe in the stagnant water,” a senior forest official said. Environmentalists said the bunds had also been raised up to 2-3 metres at some place. “They have dumped debris four to five times more than the permitted limit,’’ said Debi Goenka, trustee of Conservation Action Trust.
According to residents, six FIRs have been filed under the Environmental Protection (EP) Act against the massacre of the mangroves. Documents procured under the RTI Act show that the power of attorney, executed by the builder with the owner of the land in 2007, indicated that plans were afoot for construction in the area. The principal judge will hear all the parties on December 6 and submit a report by December 13.

Death Of Green Mangroves: Area under threat | 430 acres
Case | A developer has built bunds and a kuccha road around the mangrove tract and reclaimed the private forest land adjoining the Gorai creek ostensibly to manufacture salt. He claims to be the Power of attorney of the original owner, the Kamathia’s. Shockingly, the POA document has no mention of salt at all, but is a development agreement!

Jan 12, 2009 | The New Link Road Residents’ Forum files FIR
May, 2010 | Following an order from the forest department, a team of environmentalists, forest officials and members of the New Link Road Residents’ Forum surveys the area. The members are attacked by goons and their cameras snatched away
May 18, 2010: The report shows massive destruction of mangroves
May 20, 2010 | The collector orders status quo and forms a committee to look into the violations
June, 2010 | Developer files a contempt notice against the Mumbai Suburban Collector in the Supreme Court
Nov 24, 2010 | The SC sets aside the notice and directs the city civil court judge to submit a report by December 16

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