Mangroves killed in Kamothe to pave way for huts: Activists

Navi Mumbai: The mangrove cell (Navi Mumbai) inspected another patch of mangroves in Kamothe that have been destroyed. Some unknown elements have spread a green colour liquid leading to the death of the mangroves over an approximate 30 guntha stretch and have illegally constructed a hut in the vicinity. Similarly, debris has been dumped on the mangroves near the Kalamboli holding pond and Roadpalli.Huts have come up on this mangrove land.
Seawoods resident Adv Pradeep Patole had lodged a complaint with the mangroves cell - Navi Mumbai regarding the destruction of mangroves in Kamothe. “I had seen some green colour liquid in the mangroves on the Kamothe node side of the Panvel-Sion highway. Also a number of mangrove trees were found dead on the 30 guntha land of the mangroves area. However, trees nearby were not found dead. Surprisingly, a small hut has come on the land. Hence I had complained and received a response from the mangrove cell,” said Adv Pradeep Patole.
However, as the site visit was delayed neither the liquid nor the hut was noticed. Many have expressed serious concern over the delay in inspection after lodging the complaint. “During the visit we took note of the dead mangrove trees in Kamothe. We have also taken note of the debris dumped near the the holding pond area in Kalamboli and Roadpali side along with the dead mangroves. We have also taken note of the illegally constructed huts in the area. However, the mangrove land has not been handed over to us,” said Deepak Chavan, round officer mangrove cell. “Due to hand over issue the mangroves cell is unable to lodge formal complaints against the culprits,” added Patole.