After forest department officials seize JCB digging up mangrove land and arrest contractor, complainant says civic officials tried to justify the illegal act as part of cleanliness drive
Range forest officer Sanjay Bagare at the spot where digging was being done, with JCB operator Panelal Yadav. The forest department lodged police complaints against the violation
Forest department officials, acting on a citizen's complaint of illegal work happening in a protected mangrove area in Lakshmi Nagar in Charkop, were shocked to discover a BMC-contracted JCB digging a 8x10-metre trench, allegedly for building slums and their toilets.
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Without hesitation, the department, which protects wetlands and mangroves, got the contractor from R-south ward, Panelal Yadhav, and his supervisor Nikunj Jain arrested and confiscated the JCB for violation of CRZ norms.
Reji Abraham, the complainant and a non-officio member of recently formed high-powered committee to keep a check on such incidents, alleged that the biggest joke was that some BMC officials had brushed off the incident as minor and justified their action as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan.
Range Forest Officer (Mangrove Cell) Sanjay Bagare, who conducted the raid, said the accused was arrested on the spot and produced in Borivli court on Friday, which granted him bail.
"The contractor was apparently given a work order to dig a trench in the area, which is already infested with illegal slums. But the HC directive is clear — no construction activity can be carried out in a CRZ area," he added.
Cracking the whip
Chief Conservator of Forests, Mangrove Cell, N Vasudevan informed that his department exercised its quasi-judicial powers to make the arrests and confiscate the JCB. "We are still investigating the role played by the civic authorities — giving a work order to the contractor for conducting illegal activity in an eco-sensitive area. Our officers have been provided with more vehicles now, which will result in more prompt actions of such nature in the future," he said.
Blatant law violation
Abraham, who is also president of the United Association for Social Education and Public Welfare, said this case was yet another example of civic officials being hand in glove with the land mafia, who had scant regard for the law of the land.
Headed by Konkan divisional commissioner, the committee consists of senior police officers and MMRDA and other government officials, who have been collectively entrusted with the responsibility of acting on complaints received for protection and preservation of the fast depleting mangrove forests, and monitor follow-up action.
When contacted, Assistant Commissioner (R-south) Sahebrao Gaikwad said that he was unaware of the case as he was on leave and would look into it on resuming duty next week.
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