Mangroves under threat from dumping of construction debris along Kamothe creek

NAVI MUMBAI: The dense mangrove stretch along Kamothe creek side is under threat and thanks to debris mafia for unmindful dumping of construction waste. If debris mafia was not enough, private contractors are adding their effort to create a huge dumping yard well inside the mangrove patch adjacent to educational institutions and high rises facing the creek. And authorities are no better in cracking the whip on such miscreants that destroyed several mangroves.
Residents allege that the lackadaisical attitude of officials has encouraged the debris and land mafia who are responsible in the destruction of massive mangroves by dumping of construction debris on daily basis. The private contractors engaged in construction activity in the region are allegedly disposing of construction debris here which has gone unchecked by the authorities.
According to residents, construction waste is being dumped systematically along this creek shore adjoining the coastal road in lieu of designated dumping grounds created by Panvel City Municipal Corporation at various locations across its jurisdiction, under the cover of darkness. The vast mangrove stretch runs through sector 35 of Kamothe till the fringe of Mansarovar station road, a stone’s throw away from the Kamothe skyscrapers.
“I have brought this issue to the notice of various agencies responsible for the safeguarding of mangrove cover here but no deterrent action has been initiated hitherto. Forest department has been well informed so as PCMC and Cidco. However, this has fallen on the deaf ears of officials. If this illegal activity continues unabated, dense mangroves here will face extinction in the next few months and the residents will be left exposed to the natural calamity,” said a resident Shirish Patil.
This illegal dumping activity goes on unchecked and the agencies responsible for protecting the marine green are pretending to be unaware of the very fact. Residents allege that the debris is being dumped by the private contractors who are into construction busienss. Ironically, the local mangrove cell of forest department is oblivious to this face.
“We will cross check whether it’s in forest area. We believe that Cidco has a say on the matter as the area belongs to Cidco,” said D S Sonawane, range forest officer. When asked, Cidco environment officer Pramod Patil said, “I have not come across such scene in the recent past. However, I will personally visit the dumping site and take stock of the situation.”