Thane Forest Department initiates inquiry into debris dumping in SGNP ESZ

Water tankers near the dumping site inside the Eco-Sensitive Zone of Sanjay Gandhi National Park. FILE PICS/Ranjeet Jadhav

Following mid-day's article on debris dumping in the Rushivan area of Borivali East, an Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) adjacent to Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), officials from the Thane Forest Department have initiated an inquiry into the matter. According to officials, a team is set to visit the spot to investigate the dumping activity and also examine how water is being extracted to fill tankers.

Nature lovers have expressed anger over the intensity at which the dumping was going on and the water was being extracted from the area adjacent to SGNP, saying construction debris dumping has transformed a green patch into a hillock-like structure.

‘Conduct an investigation'

A massive hill-like mound of construction debris seen inside the Eco-Sensitive Zone

A nature lover closely following the issue said, "The Eco-Sensitive Zone Monitoring Committee, the forest department, the local ward office, and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board should conduct independent investigations into the matter. Strict action must be taken to prevent any attempts at land grabbing."

mid-day's report

On May 21, this paper carried a story - Green buffer turns grey as illegal dumping spreads near SGNP ESZ, sparks ‘land mafia' fears - highlighting how a massive debris mound had come up, triggering allegations of illegal landfilling, water extraction, and an organised land grab attempt.

What mid-day saw at site

>> Huge mound of debris
>> Tin-sheet barricades around the dumping zone
>> Vehicles parked atop the debris hill
>> Water tankers lined up
>> Pipes extending towards a natural water source
>> Banners warning against dumping

Official Speak

A senior official from the Thane Forest Department (Territorial) said, "We have already initiated a preliminary inquiry into the debris dumping issue in the Rishivan area adjacent to SGNP. Our team will visit the spot and also inspect the water tankers being filled through a pipeline in the area. We will verify whether the required permissions have been obtained for extracting water from the site."