The site falls under Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ).
The city environmentalists are up in arms after some of them noticed the ongoing construction of an illegal road on the creek side of the Palm Beach Road in Navi Mumbai, between NRI complex and TS Chanakya. The site not only falls under the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ), but also runs parallel to a water body that sees thousands of Flamingos every year.
Stalin D, director, projects for Vanashakti, who visited the site and has already written to several agencies, including the Konkan commissioner as well as the Mangrove Cell, said, "The illegal road was being extended clandestinely. It is obviously an attempt to encroach upon and construct in CRZ areas and eventually reclaim the lake."
In fact, he said, they had even registered complaints about attempts to fill up the lake, after which the reclamation had stopped. But now the culprits were taking advantage of the thick monsoon vegetation that has hidden the site from the Palm beach Road, he said. Stalin further informed that they have made it amply clear to the authorities that the debris must be removed immediately, action should be taken against culprits and the road that leads to the backside of TS Chanakya should be barricaded. "The Bombay High Court had earlier ordered the removal of all encroachments in the area. After almost one year, fresh attempts of encroachment are being made. We do not want police to register an FIR against 'unknown persons' simply to close the case, as these culprits need to be booked," he said.
Vinod Punshi, a member of the Navi Mumbai Environment Preservation Society, said that he saw a dumper dumping debris on Friday. He then not only photographed the dumper, but also intercepted the driver and alerted the officials. "I spoke to the authorities, including the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) as well as cops. But I was shocked to know that NMMC itself had permitted a local to dump the debris. The local claimed he wanted to build a path leading to the Bamandev temple," he said.
On Saturday, Punshi went to the site with NMMC officials again and showed them the violations, questioning how the permissions could be granted. "NMMC officials said the permission was granted on the grounds that dumping will not be carried out on the mangroves. But I showed to the officials that such clauses were impossible to follow," said Punshi, adding that the entire place was a beautiful ecosystem and home to several birds.
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 "Palm Beach Road")
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