Aaditya Thackeray backs irked locals, says he's talked to environment minister about incident.
Even as 200 residents from Versova marched in protest on the Yari Road extension on Sunday morning against the dumping in the mangroves near park plaza garden, their voices got stronger with Aaditya Thackeray not only supporting them but also stating that he has requested the environment minister to ensure mangroves are saved and those damaging it by dumping are punished as per law.
"There was a lot of anger against the authorities amongst locals who walked from Amarnath towers in Yari Road to Park plaza where around 50 truckload of dumping has killed the mangroves along with filling a water body. We want all the debris to be removed and action taken against those who were behind it," shared Ashoke Pandit, film-maker and activist.
In fact, Pandit informed that even Thackeray supported the Versova citizen's movement against destruction of mangroves and soon Sena leader Shailesh Phanse too came to the spot and saw the dumping and promised to look into the matter.
Shashi Ranjan, president of the New Yari Road Residents Association, shared that it was on Thrusday and Friday that over 50 trucks ended up dumping debris on the mangroves and water body, which was seen by a resident from park plaza building after which the residents decided to raise their voice.
Meanwhile, Yuva Sena chief Aaditya Thackeray tweeted: "Spoke to Environment Minister Ramdas Kadam over reports of debris dumped at the Versova Mangroves. Officers will visit and take action." He also tweeted that he has spoken the environment minister to ensure that the mangroves are saved and those dumping debris are punished by law.
However, residents informed that they are not going to stop at this. "We have decided that we will call for a bigger demonstration to protest against the rampant destruction of mangroves in areas of Oshiwara, Lokhandwala, Versova and Yari Road as unless citizens are out on the roads making noise, the authourities supposed to protect mangroves and be alert will not take action.
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