Mumbai: Large-scale illegal debris dumping over the past fortnight has ravaged about 25 acres of mangroves, a protected wetland, in Borivli West’s Dharma Nagar, locals and environmentalists have alleged. They said no effective action has been taken despite multiple complaints to civic officials, including the mangrove cell, and police.
Activists have photographic evidence showing lorries systematically disposing of construction waste and rubble during the day, the natural vegetation being cleared, and the ground level being artificially raised through continuous dumping. The New Link Road Residents Forum has submitted detailed documentation of the illegal activity to the authorities.
Assistant municipal commissioner Sandhya Nandedkar confirmed having received a complaint from the forum. “A joint visit to the site with the forest department has been planned, and based on the forest department’s directions, action will be taken,” she said.
Flagging the threat to the local biodiversity and the natural flood control mechanism that mangroves provide to the western suburbs, the forum sought immediate intervention. It also alleged that a wedding venue has been operating illegally within the protected zone, and warned that such commercial activities would encourage further encroachment and destruction of the mangrove ecosystem.
Harish Pandey from the forum rued the lack of effective action despite multiple complaints. “Any delay in addressing the violations could lead to irreversible damage. Mangroves are protected under various environmental laws and their destruction is a punishable offence,” he said, demanding regular patrols to prevent further degradation. —Richa Pinto