Environmental activist Stalin D has raised alarm over illegal dumping in the Ulhas river near Badlapur, which is narrowing the river and could lead to severe flooding. He urges immediate government intervention and demolition of illegal riverside structures.
The Ulhas river stretch along Muaze Kulgaon near Manjarli in Badlapur, Thane district, where illegal dumping is allegedly taking place. Pic/By Special Arrangement
The rampant illegal dumping of mud and rocks in the riparian zone (area between river and land) of the Ulhas river in the area under the jurisdiction of the Kulgaon Badlapur Municipal Corporation (KBMC) is narrowing the water body, which could lead to flooding in Badlapur, environmentalist Stalin D has warned.
When Stalin, the director of the NGO Vanashakti, visited Muaze Kulgaon near Manjarli in Badlapur, Thane district, on May 17, he was taken aback on seeing mud being illegally dumped on the banks of the Ulhas. He subsequently apprised the principal secretary of the environment department about the goings on and sent an email with pictures and the videos attached.
A building that environmentalist D Stalin alleges has been illegally constructed on the riverside
Stalin told mid-day, “Based on information I had received, I visited the Ulhas river stretch near Kulgaon. I was shocked to see that, for about a kilometre, a massive amount of mud and rocks had been dumped on the riverside and inside the water body itself. The width of the river has been narrowed, and floods are bound to follow in the city of Badlapur.”
The environmentalist alleged that the illegal dumped had been done by the people/organisation that possesses the land next to the river, survey number 56/2/3. “There are others, too, whose survey numbers we are not currently aware of,” he said.
Illegal dumping allegedly taking place along the rive bank. Pics/By Special Arrangement
In his complaint, Stalin stated that the entire riparian zone of the river had been transformed and hundreds of trees had been destroyed.
“Monsoon is around the corner, and all the mud will wash into fresh water, causing extensive siltation. Besides the Water Prevention of Pollution Act, environmental damage attracts provisions of the Environment Protection Act and the Forest Conservation Act, since the riverside was saturated with natural forests before being denuded,” Stalin said.
He added, “The water holding capacity of the river will be greatly reduced, and nearby areas will surely witness intensive flooding. Loss of life and property is imminent, and the situation demands an emergency war-like response,” said Stalin.
He also alleged that an organisation had illegally constructed buildings next to the river, as well as other structures and roads.
Stalin demanded that the authorities demolish all such structures and restore the river to its previous state.
“For a start, please remove the dumped material and take steps to stabilise the slopes of the river,” wrote the environmentalist, who insisted that all expenses incurred must be borne by the violator, instead of squandering public money.
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