Mangroves being destroyed in Dahisar East in April 2015

“In total violation of the CRZ I, mangroves have been hacked near Saraswati Apartments. Close to 15 acres of wetlands are being reclaimed to convert the plot into a parking area for tourist buses,” said Harish Pandey, secretary, NLRRF.

“At another location, near Vithal Rakhumai Mandir, mangroves have been cleared to store building material such as sewage pipes and cement blocks,” Pandey said.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), on Thursday, issued a notice under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) Act about the alleged mangrove destruction in the two locations, which fall under the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ).

“The BMC has done its part by releasing the notice. The police have to take further action now,” said Santoshkumar Dhonde, assistant commissioner, R-north ward (Borivali, Dahisar).

The Dahisar police, however, told HT that while they received the MRTP notice from the civic body on Friday, the BMC needs to send an engineer to the spot for inspection.

“We are waiting for an engineer from the municipal corporation to give us the exact details of the violation, after which we will file an FIR against the accused,” said Prakash Jadhav, senior inspector, Dahisar police.

Officials from the revenue department confirmed the violation of environmental norms at one of the locations.“We visited the site near Saraswati Apartments along with forest officials. We found violations and filed two complaints to the Dahisar police, asking them to register an FIR. If rules have been flouted at the second location too, we will draft a panchnama along with the forest department, and file a complaint,” said Prashanti Mane, tehsildar, Borivli taluka.

Residents have alleged serious damage to the mangroves.

“Dumped debris has formed a 10-feet-high wall near the Vithal Rakhumai Mandir, where clearing of illegally extracted sand is underway,” said David Soosay, resident of Dahisar.

While NEW LINK ROAD RESIDENTS’ FORUM approached the BMC, the police and the revenue department on Wednesday 15^th April 2015, an FIR is yet to be registered

DESPITE THE HC JUDGEMENT, SUCH ENVIRONMENTAL VIOLATIONS AND RECLAMATION OF WETLANDS ARE ON THE RISE, said ARELENE DSOUZA, resident of Dahisar.

THE BMC HAS DONE ITS PART BY RELEASING THE NOTICE. THE POLICE HAVE TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION NOW, says SANTOSH KUMAR DHONDE, assistant commissioner, R-north ward (Borivali, Dahisar)

Mangroves near Saraswati Apartments in Dahisar East have been damaged.

While The New Link Road Residents’ Forum (NLRRF) approached the civic body, the police and the revenue department on Wednesday, an FIR is yet to be registered in the matter. More than a year after the Bombay high court (HC) banned reclamation of wetlands, residents of Dahisar (East) have complained of mangrove destruction in their area.

18 Apr 2015 Hindustan Times (Mumbai) Badri Chatterjee badri.chatterjee@hinudstantimes.com