Weeks after MiD DAY's investigations revealed that many rules are being flouted to facilitate the development of an SEZ in the area, officials from Mumbai and Thane civic bodies paid a visit
Weeks after MiD DAY's investigations revealed that many rules are being flouted to facilitate the development of an SEZ in the area, officials from Mumbai and Thane civic bodies paid a visit
For almost three weeks now, MiD DAY has been consistently exposing the murky matters taking place in an around the Mulund dumping ground, endangering the ecologically sensitive region.
But the officials of Thane and Mumbai have just arisen from their slumber.
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Subodh Kumar with R A Rajeev inspect the dumping ground
After a complaint was registered about the blockage of a nullah in order to facilitate development work in near the Mulund dumping ground, BMC commissioner Subodh Kumar, and TMC commissioner R A Rajeev inspected the disputed area along with other corporation officials, yesterday.
In course of their visit, the officials evaluated the extent to which debris, dumped indiscriminately on the ground, has been blocking the nullah, which in turn has been encroaching upon the fast- receding creek in the area.
They also took stock of the mangrove situation. MiD DAY had launched a campaign earlier this month, in a bid to save the vanishing mangrove habitat at Mulund, which is on the brink of extinction. ('Is the city's largest wetland being mowed down on the sly?' May 12).
The company undertaking development work had avowedly acquired the necessary clearance from the Environment Ministry.
The clearance, however, has raised the hackles of members of the local fishing community at Kopri, who have been losing their livelihoods.
Environmentalists too had expressed outrage at the government's apathy, when it came to conservation of a green patch in the city that was protected by law.
In course of their inspection, officials from the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) discovered that a storm water drain (SWD) had been blocked in order to facilitate the SEZ work.
The drain leads into Mulund, and blocking it could result in catastrophic flooding in neighbouring areas, including Thane.
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Kumar said, "The mangrove habitat runs along the peripheral wall of the Mulund Dumping ground, falling between the creek and dumping ground. No debris is being dumped in the region."
The claims, however, do little to disprove the concrete visual evidence obtained by MiD DAY in the form of satellite images, which prove beyond doubt that the dumping ground has been gradually encroaching upon the fast depleting mangrove forest.
Kumar further added that he had instructed developers at the SEZ to remove the debris blocking the nullah. "The passage of water was being obstructed.
We have asked them to remove the blockage. More water outlets should be made on the bandhs in the region to allow smooth flow of water and prevent flooding," he said.
Asked about the clearance obtained by the construction company, Rajeev said, "I have been here for a year. I am not aware of any notification or clearance given to any company."
Asked about the possible flooding of the region due to the blockage of the SWD, he said, "The entire work is being undertaken in Mulund.
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So all questions regarding the work should be directed to the BMC. Once the work starts in the Thane section, we will ensure that all the guidelines are followed to the last word."
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