On 12th December 2011, our Forum members along with Rahul Chauhan from Mangrove Society of India were shocked to see the brazen manner in which people, with support of certain political parties and corrupt officials, have cruelly destroyed precious mangroves in Borivali.
This is what one of our members wrote: “Mangroves destruction in Ganpat Patil Nagar on New Link Road, Borivali is at its peak. Even the pillars of Forest Department have been uprooted to carry out debris dumping. The Police being ‘unaware’ is something one may not be able to digest. Only stringent & immediate action against the violators can create deterrent. Hope the Forest dept takes note of these violations & acts as promised.”
Site visit by Forest Dept officials was completed yesterday morning, and then site visit by Tehsildars team and BMC visit was also completed. TV 9 and Press were also present.
This is an article from the Times of India page 9 13th December 2011.
Fresh attempt to destroy mangroves
Manthan K Mehta TNN
Mumbai: Citizens’ activists have identified fresh attempts to destroy mangroves by dumping of debris at Ganpat Patil Nagar off New Link Road in Dahisar.
In 2010, a public interest litigation was filed by the citizens against the multiplication of slums by destroying mangroves in the past decade at the same spot.
Harish Pandey, secretary New Link Road Residents’ Forum said, “Following our complaint, officials from the BMC, forest and revenue department conducted a survey of the site, that falls under the Coastal Regulatory Zone –I, on Monday.”
In 1995, there were a mere 400 slums in what is now called as Ganpat Patil Nagar, Pandey said “Around 7,500 shanties now stand on the land which was once had thick mangroves. A reply by the BMC to an RTI application RTI confirmed there were no more than 850 structures at this site in 2000.”
To evade detection the encroachers now have been dumping debris with the use of three-wheelers. “After a tip-off, we inspected the site on Sunday morning and took photographs. Government departments have been informed.”
Citizens allege that most of the slums in the area are protected by certain political parties and provided illegal water and power connections.
Debris dumped at Dahisar
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