Special committee reports fresh violations at Dhamapur Lake

NAGPUR: In another threat to Dhamapur, the state's biggest man-made lake, fresh violations in high flood risk area have been reported. On Thursday, a panchnama was filed after a spot inspection was carried out by a team of officials.


TOI has been reporting how the 500-year-old Dhamapur, an identified wetland in

Sindhudurg district

, is facing threats from construction and other activities. On the recommendations of civil society groups which have been fighting to protect the wetlands, the

district

administration had formed a first-of-its-kind committee for brief documentation of wetlands.

The committee, which has around 40 members all experts in different fields, is carrying out brief documentation of 64 wetlands in Sindhudurg.

Recently, during a spot inspection of Dhamapur, the committee noticed excavation of land and tree felling for a construction in the high flood risk area. “As per the high court’s order, it is a protected area. Even though the land is of private ownership, construction is not allowed as per the wetland rules,” said Sachin Desai, one of the committee members.

The other members of the committe include educationist Sushma Keni, agriculturist Sandeep Rane, architect Ajit Parab, wildlife conservator Malhar Indulkar and others.

The committee members immediately reported the violations to the district collector. “During the last 4-5 days, someone is excavating soil from the high flood line area of the lake for doing some construction. The boundary wall is already constructed and 2 teevar trees are already cut. Please save Dhamapur lake,” the complaint stated.

Acting on it, the collector issued an urgent order to the tehsildar of Malvan, directing him to visit the violation site and report the details. Stating that officials of the concerned department should also accompany the tehsildar, the collector said that the report should be submitted before 4pm on June 7.

However as per a complaint made by committee members to the state chief secretary, the tehsildar did not visit the spot personally and instead delegated the work to a talathi of Dhamapur. “A talathi does not have powers to lodge a first information report,” committee members wrote.

Following this, a team comprising of circle officer, a forest official from the mangrove cell and others visited the spot and conducted a panchnama. An official from the tehsildar office told TOI that the report will be submitted in a day or two.

Stating that no further damage should be caused to the ecosystem of Dhamapur lake, the committee members have demanded strict action against the violator. Member of the wetland grievance redressal committee Stalin D said that the violations reported by the committee should be taken seriously. “Setting-up a committee to document details of wetlands is a welcome step; at least the violations are coming on record for the first time. Those damaging environment have no fear of law,” he added.