Claim 50 to 60 truckloads of debris were discarded, want action against those responsible
An aerial shot of land that was allegedly levelled illegally
Large amounts of soil have allegedly been dumped within forest-declared portions of Aarey Milk Colony, one of Mumbai’s last remaining green zones. City-based activists and environmentalists have demanded that strict action be taken against those responsible, including forest officials who failed to carry out their responsibilities.
On Wednesday afternoon, the members of the Adivasi community informed Amrita Bhattacharjee, activist and member of the Aarey Conservation Group, that the dumping of stones, earth, and murum soil was going on near Maroshi Pada inside the colony.
At 4 pm, Bhattacharjee visited the location along with Adivasi Sanghatan members Dinesh Habale and Pradeep Hadal. Bhattacharjee told mid-day, “In some part of the marshy land, landfilling activities were carried out. The contractor at the site where the dumping was done claimed that he had permission to do the work, but the permission letter doesn’t speak about allowing landfilling.
We demand that an offence be registered against those responsible for dumping of debris inside the forest area. It is shocking to see the gall of miscreants, who arrived at the spot with JCB machines at night to level the land when complaints had been filed to the forest department and forest watchmen had already visited the area.
According to locals, stones, earth, and murum soil were being dumped near Maroshi Pada in Aarey Milk Colony. PICS/By Special Arrangement
Action should be taken against the forest officials who failed to carry out their responsibilities under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980.” Sources from the forest department told this newspaper that a production house had obtained permission to shoot in the area, and the dumping was allegedly done to level the area for filming.
Environmentalist Stalin D has also complained about the dumping to the authorities, including the chief secretary of Maharashtra, principal secretary, forest, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, deputy conservator of forest, Thane, chief conservator of forest, Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Mumbai suburban collector, and the chief executive officer of Aarey.
Stalin D said, “Large-scale dumping of mud and stones has taken place inside an ecologically sensitive forest area, which is a serious violation of environmental laws. Around 50 to 60 truckloads of debris have been dumped, altering the natural landscape. Despite visits by forest officials, no action has been taken. If this destruction continues, we will be forced to approach the Supreme Court to seek urgent environmental justice.”
An official from the forest department told mid-day that they had visited the site and a preliminary offence report had been registered under relevant sections of the Forest Conservation Act against the contractor responsible.
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