MHADA has leased out about 10 acres in Andheri to a private company.
The residents of Lokhandwala complex in Andheri seem to be fighting a losing battle to protect mangroves in the area. Their efforts suffered a major blow when it was revealed that the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) has leased out around 10 acres of mangrove land to a private company for a gymkhana.
“We have been fighting to save the mangroves for three years,” Seema Sahu said. Sahu, a resident of Shanti Kutir, the last building on the creek-side at SVP Nagar, Four Bungalows, in Andheri, said she was shocked to see large-scale destruction of mangroves behind her building.
“Inquiries revealed that the reclamation (of mangrove land) was being done to construct a gymkhana and the land had been leased out to Crecnet 3M Gymkhana Private Limited, Andheri (W),” Sahu said.
Arvind Dhole, chief officer of Mhada, said he did not want to make any comment. “I will have to go through the lease agreement, if any, and inspect the site before commenting,” he said.
According to the copy of the indenture of lease in possession of DNA, MHADA agreed to lease out 9.88 acres of land, bearing survey number 120 and CST number 1374 PT, for the purpose of a recreation centre on October 14, 2005. The land was leased out for 30 years at an annual lease of Re1. MHADA also charged Rs75 lakh as lease premium and Rs23.43 lakh as capitalised amount of lease rent.
Sahu alleged that land sharks have been making “systematic efforts” to destruct mangroves and reclaim land for years. “We had even called on the then home minister RR Patil. However, nothing was done despite his clear instructions to take action,” Sahu said. The reclamation in the area has destroyed thick mangrove forest cover, leading to encroachment.
Green selloutOn October 7, 2005, the Bombay high court, hearing a PIL filed
by Bombay Environmental Action Group, had imposed total ban on construction and dumping of garbage and debris in mangrove areas
The court ordered mangrove areas to be declared as protected forests and banned on destruction and cutting of mangroves
The HC had put a ban on construction within 50 metres on all sides of all mangroves and restrained state and all its agencies from giving any development permission on mangrove plots
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