Citizen activism: Authorities save Mumbai mangroves from builder debris

The initiative by an Andheri residents’ association to protect mangroves and discourage encroachment by land sharks is finally yielding results. The state environment department, the civic authorities and the police have all stepped in to stop the dumping of debris on a mangroves stretch near the Oshiwara creek.

On Friday, residents and activists were pleasantly surprised to find policemen standing guard as excavators started clearing the area. “It is heartening to see the authorities taking prompt corrective action. This will send a message to builders that they can’t get away with illegal activities,” said environmentalist Debi Goenka, who is supporting the cause.

In a recent letter addressed to activist Ashoke Pandit, who along with the Oshiwara-Lokhandwala Citizens’ Association has taken up the issue, state environment secretary Valsa Nair Singh has assured support, saying: “The authorities concerned at the field level — the district collector, the representative of the forest department, and the BMC officials concerned — have been directed to take action on the issue.”

District suburban collector Nirmal Deshmukh, too, assured residents of action against builders if they fail to clear the land.
Earlier, following the association’s complaint at the collector’s office, the Oshiwara police filed a first information report against the builders for illegal land-filling. Advocating more vigilance by residents against land sharks, an association member Sumesh Lekhi said, “It’s shocking how the builder lobby is systematically choking mangroves in their attempt to level the land.”

So far, mangroves on nearly 10,000 sqmt at the Oshiwara creek have been destroyed allegedly by builders aiming at building a multi-storey residential complex there.

“They had no environmental clearance and yet the BMC has accepted their building plan,” alleged Pandit.