Activists claim Panje is wetland, share proof

Two environmentalists on Thursday shared with the HC-appointed panel unverified coordinates and codes of areas across the 213-hectare Panje area, overlapping with the zones identified in the National Wetland Atlas: Maharashtra State 2011.

Environmentalists have questioned the state mangrove and wetland panel’s claim that Panje is not a wetland. HT reported on Thursday that according to the panel, Panje in Navi Mumbai cannot be considered a wetland despite possessing characteristics of one, because the area is not designated as such in the National Wetland Atlas.

Environmentalists have questioned the state mangrove and wetland panel’s claim that Panje is not a wetland. (Reptresentative Image) (Pratik Chorge/HT Photo)

Two environmentalists on Thursday shared with the HC-appointed panel unverified coordinates and codes of areas across the 213-hectare Panje area, overlapping with the zones identified in the National Wetland Atlas: Maharashtra State 2011.

Kharghar resident Naresh Singh from non-government organisation (NGO) Abhivyakti said that officials from the forest department themselves had shared three coordinates of intertidal mudflats, mangroves and salt pans matching with coordinates of Panje. “Since Panje is spread across a large area, the panel may have missed out on different types of wetlands. The whole inventory, which is public, only has a few coordinates for large spaces whereas wetlands can have multiple coordinates. The inventory needs to be updated,” he said.

Similarly, Debi Goenka from Conservation Action Trust shared nine coordinates and codes overlapping areas of Panje. “Mangroves, saltpans and intertidal areas all form wetlands. The panel has been completely unprofessional in its approach. If a dedicated cell does not know where the wetlands are, we are facing a crisis,” he said.