NAVI MUMBAI: Responding to the stand taken by the state administration and reported by TOI, city NGO, Nature Connect Foundation shot off a mail, on Saturday, to the CM and
environment minister
.
Referring to the destruction of mangroves in Navi Mumbai, the foundation wanted to know whether any study was done on the availability of land for CA in and around
Vashi
. These are not ordinary plants, but mangroves which play a very vital role in protecting the coast from tidal water attacks, apart from having a host of advantages including serving as carbon sinks, the mail has pointed out.
Erangal village in
Borivali
creek decided for afforestation was in another district, said foundation president, B N Kumar.
Citing destruction of mangroves in
nearby Uran
, the mail suggested the CA could be done anywhere in and around Vashi or even Uran which are facing the brunt of the mangrove loss. ''And we do not think that it is very difficult to find 1.4 hectares for the CA."
The CA could even be split between the Vashi and Mankhurd sides depending on the hacking of the plants, the mail pointed out.
NatConnect has asked to relook into the compensatory afforestation (CA) of mangroves required in lieu of land for third creek bridge (TCB III) over Vashi creek. The mail states, " rule may say anything, but we must look at the rationale and practicality as well from the environment protection aspect. There is a huge difference in doing compensatory afforestation (CA) for terrestrial plants and mangroves."
While all praise for the prompt action taken by the CM,
Udhav Thackeray
, for forwarding the green concern, Kumar said in the mail, " the government can always resubmit to the high court once the CA location is changed. It is the question of only technicality. The Court will also appreciate the fact that the government has decided to safeguard the mangroves."
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