500 mangrove trees hacked at Kopar Khairane in Navi Mumbai

Nearly 500 mangrove trees on a plot adjacent to the newly developed Ganpati talav along Vashi creek in Kopar Khairane have been destroyed over the past few months, said environmental activists.

Nearly 500 mangrove trees on a plot adjacent to the newly developed Ganpati talav along Vashi creek in Kopar Khairane have been destroyed over the past few months, said environmental activists.

When HT visited the area on Saturday, we spotted a fishing boat and temporary shed, probably set up by fishermen, on the other side of the talav. However, this is not the only attack on the mangroves in the area. Encroachers along the road have also built shanties by cutting mangrove trees, alleged activists, adding that around 50 shanties have sprung up in the area over the past year.

“The number of shanties here is increasing by the day. Mangrove trees are being strategically cut so that the space can be used to build them,” said Jibonti Sonowal, an activist from Kopar Khairane, adding, “The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) officials are aware of this, as they visit the talav regularly, but we don’t know what action they plan to take.”

While hearing a PIL filed by NGO Navi Mumbai Environment Preservation Society (NMEPS), the Bombay high court, in August 2015, had directed the NMMC, Cidco and the Maharashtra Forest department to appoint a nodal officer protect mangroves under their jurisdiction.

The nodal officer, Nitin Patil, deputy commissioner of police (special branch), said, “Following the HC’s guidelines, a committee — comprising representatives from all these agencies — was formed last year. We conduct meetings to discuss such issues and submit reports to HC. But I am not sure if the Kopar Khairane matter was discussed in any of the meetings.”

Tushar Pawar, deputy municipal commissioner (garden and tree authority) of NMMC, said, “The mangrove trees in the area come under the forest department’s jurisdiction.”

Makrand Ghodke, assistant conservator of forest, said, “I will ask our range officers to visit the place at the earliest. I was not aware of this issue. Requisite measures will be taken soon.”