‘Debris dumping destroyed 160 acres of mangroves in Raigad, Thane & Palghar’

Navi Mumbai: In a detailed study using satellite imagery and other technical support, environmentalist D Stalin, who is also a member of the Bombay high court-appointed state wetlands committee, has alleged that 160 acres of mangroves have been destroyed due to debris dumping and other illegal means in the three districts of Raigad, Thane and Palghar.

Green activists have requested that the state govt stop taking mangroves and wetlands lightly. They alleged, for instance, that more than 4 acres of a partial coastal regulatory zone (CRZ) area near the NMMC head office in Belapur had been earlier converted into a cricket ground, and now the civic body plans to set up a super-speciality hospital on this site and the additional adjoining space. While cricket enthusiasts are also protesting, environmentalists said more CRZ areas in the three districts are vulnerable in this manner.


Stalin, who heads NGO Vanashakti, said, "It is shocking that mangroves on 160 acres have been destroyed in the three districts. The actual damage to the environment is much more. We need to understand that this destruction occurred in brazen violation of high court orders that protect wetlands. Apart from mangrove lands, the thousands of acres of wetlands that were reclaimed illegally have not been documented. We urge the govt to restore these ecologically important areas and prosecute those responsible."

The satellite mapping and study of mangroves was conducted by Mahapreit ERAF and Geoinfo Services. Palghar lost the maximum mangroves spread over 78.99 acres, followed by Raigad, where mangroves on a 53.71 acre area were destroyed and encroached upon. In Thane district, 28.26 acres of mangroves land was similarly encroached upon.

Environmentalist Nandakumar Pawar, president of the Maharashtra Small Scale Traditional Fish Workers Union and head of Sagarshakti Coastal Projects, said: "The destruction of the green coastal areas is continuing, but the govt is not doing much. This can lead to a serious ecological hazard in the coming years. Just recently, massive mangrove trees were being destroyed at Dadarpada in the Pen taluka of Raigad, while the green coast of Panje in Uran taluka is also being damaged through debris dumping."

The greens have reiterated that if the destruction of mangroves continues, there can be massive flooding and other disastrous events that can severely affect humans.

Stalin said, "The satellite study is very detailed and clearly shows (in red colour) how various mangroves have been encroached upon illegally. It is sad that the CRZ area just behind the NMMC head office in Belapur has also been made into a ground, where the authorities now plan to build a super-speciality hospital."

TOI had earlier spoken to NMMC commissioner Kailas Shinde about the ground where a super-speciality hospital is being planned. Shinde had said this matter was currently in court due to litigation among the parties, including cricket match organisers.