Kasadi river being choked, authorities pass the buck

NAVI MUMBAI: In a brazen illegal operation that has been on unchecked for the past several days, huge amounts of debris are being dumped inside Kasadi River near Taloja CETP outside Navi Mumbai. The land mafia has brought in a JCB machine and levelling work is also on.

Eyewitnesses said hundreds of truckloads of soil and debris have already been dumped into the river. They fear if the illegal activity is allowed to continue, the river could be reduced to a nullah in the next few weeks. If that happens, a deluge similar to that of 2005 can’t be ruled out, they said.

A few months ago, chemical waste, debris and garbage were being dumped nearby. Following a TOI report, authorities swung into action and put an end to it.

“Taking advantage of this isolated location, miscreants have been filling river banks with soil and debris to grab the stretch and set up slums. It’s impossible for such land grabbing to take place without the knowledge of authorities,” said a resident, Milind Patil.

Pramod Patil, Cidco’s nodal officer for environment, said, “The area is no more with us as it has been handed over to Mumbai Wholesale Steel and Iron Market Committee (MWSIMC). However, I will personally visit the place and take stock of the situation.”

Vikas Rasal, chief officer of MWSIMC, denied Cidco’s claim. “We have asked for a piece of open land in this area, but we have not been offered any such plot by Cidco,” said Rasal.

Environmentalists have cautioned about flooding during monsoon if the river’s natural course is blocked. “Authorities pretend to be clueless about the dumping activity that has been going on for the past few days. If this is not checked immediately, it will end up destroying the entire natural eco-system of the region,” said Sukumar Killedar, head of Save Mangroves and Navi Mumbai Existence.