Mumbai News: Fight To Save Lokhandwala Mangroves Intensifies, Minister Pankaja Munde Orders Probe And Restoration

Mumbai: The fight to save the mangroves land in Lokhandwala Andheri West has gained momentum. After several complaints by the citizens, the issue of mangroves destruction, illegal dumping and construction activities in the non-development zone, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLC Anil Parab raised the issue in the legislative council last week.

Environment Minister Pankaja Munde Visits Site, Orders Action

Following this, the issue has come to the fore again and the minister of environment and climate change, Pankaja Munde also promptly visited the spot and ordering detailed investigation on development in the non-development zone. She ordered restoration on damage wetland.

Notably, huge section of the same massive mangroves land in the western suburb, is proposed to be cut for the Coastal Road North project (Versova to Bhayandar).

Illegal dumping on mangrove land, Lokhandwala back road

The union ministry has given its in-principle approval, while the BMC has take High Court's permission before starting any work. The environmentalists have been also protesting against the construction of a law college in the area at the cost of environmental damage.

"Even if a coastal road is proposed, then it should pass only on top of these wetlands on stilts or on the existing roads so that the wetlands are not disturbed and are saved. Any permission for debris dumping, construction or other form of destruction given so far by the BMC, the MOEF or any other authority would be in clear violation of the Environmental Laws of the nation and of the state," Wildlife filmmaker and environment activist Sumesh Lekhi said.

Mangrove Land Threatened by Coastal Road North Project

"The Oshiwara Lokhandwala Wetlands which include the Sahara land have atleast 1000 acres of mangroves and Wetlands, that are home to 10000s of birds and huge amount of biodiversity species, and also serve as a quick drainage for monsoon water, keeping the area safe even during the July 2006 monsoons. As the original Coastal Zone Management Maps show, this whole belt comes under CRZ1 and is also classified as mudflat and mangroves in the Maharashtra Wetland Atlas. Therefore, no Law University or any other development, whether government or private is allowed here," Lekhi added.

Environmentalists Demand Committee Inclusion, Oppose Law College Project

The environment activits demand to be part of the committee formed under environment and climate change minister Pankaja Munde to stop the destruction of the massive mangrove land in Lokhandwala back road.

Ashoke Pandit, film maker and enviornment activist said, "I have written to the minister about it. We will follow-up with her in the cause to save the environment. The locals are more aware of the situation."

The minister during her visit on Saturday found that a large amount of filling was done in the buffer zone without taking any permission and ordered the concerned departments to conduct a detailed investigation into the reasons on development in the non-development zone.

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In view of the complaints of large-scale encroachment by cutting down mangrove forests, she also instructed the officials to collect all such cases and take immediate action. "These activities should stop. The system should work fast to protect the environment," Munde added.