Ocean Sentry
Mangroves of the city are being targeted and destroyed on a rampant basis. If inputs given by residents are to be believed then mangroves at various stretches of the city are being hacked and even encroached. Alarmed at the gradually effacing of mangroves being attempted by offenders nearby residents of mangrove lands are seeking concerned officials to act upon immediately.
Dumpers loaded with debris are reported to be seen dumping debris into the mangroves at Sector-22 Koparkhairane. Defying the warning board placed by the civic body, a citizen stated of witnessing dumpers moving within the vicinity late in the night to dump debris.
A similar scenario towards deliberately destroying the ecologically beneficial shrub was sighted at Sanpada node. The mangrove that runs alongside the railway tracks is reported to have cleared off completely in a span of three days.
“On Saturday, I noticed that some parts of the mangroves were missing. The following day, I was surprised to see that the entire stretch was cut and more hacking was going on at further end. I even clicked some pictures of the same which made the men to stop their activity for a while. By Monday, the entire stretch bears a barren look with the mangroves being cut uphill the pedestrian bridge situated adjacent to Vashi station,” said a resident of Keshav Kunj.
On bringing the matter to the notice of the concerned NMMC officials each stated of being unaware of the ongoings and informed of looking into the matter. Both the officials would be inspecting the premises and taking action accordingly.
“We will be first visiting the said area and ascertaining the nature of the complaint following which the necessary course of action would be initiated. In case of Sanpada if the plants inside the nullah were cut then it would be a part of cleaning process undertaken by NMMC,” said the officials on condition of anonymity.
(From topnews.in, India, by Mohit Joshi)
