A pitched battle over dumping concrete material in the thick mangrove belt along Versova creek has exposed a multi-crore scam.
Illegal dumping threatens to kill marshland along Versova creek
MUMBAI: A pitched battle over dumping concrete material in the thick mangrove belt along Versova creek has exposed a multi-crore scam in which the green belt is being systematically destroyed to make way for a recreational club.
It all started two months ago, when the Mangrove Society of India (Mumbai Chapter) came to know about truck loads of concrete debris being continuously dumped on a plot full of mangroves at SVP Nagar in Versova — violating the Coastal Regulation Zone I notification. “As of now, the debris layer has reached five feet. And the heat generated by the concrete is killing the mangroves. Soon a bund will be formed inside the creek which will stop the free flow of sea water to the nearby Lokhandwala mangroves,” said Ayesha Khan, MSI, project officer.
The MSI has filed a complaint with the local police blaming Narendra Verma, NCP city spokesperson — who runs the neighbouring Janaki Devi School — for the act. Khan alleged that the Versova police were going slow on the case by refusing to file an FIR against Verma.
An angry Verma, however, refuted the charge. He said he had cleared at least 500 hutments along the plot a few months ago. “Our school has a open plot, which is clearly demarcated from this plot. MSI is making allegations without any proof. They should find the real culprit,” he said.
But the DP plan of the area shows a park on the plot instead of the mangroves. Even as dumping continues on the plot, its owner — Mumbai Housing Area Development Authority (MHADA) — has sold it to noted singer Suresh Wadkar, who wants to build a recreational club on it.
Though MHADA officials were tightlipped, Wadkar said, “I have bought the plot following all rules and regulations. Let the armchair celebrity activists do their job, I will do mine.” He, however, skirted the issued of dumping. “I was away from Mumbai. I will visit the site soon,” he said.
MSI officials have made several rounds of government offices over the past month to save the mangroves. The list includes the police, mayor, Sharwaree Gokhale, principal secretary, environment, and even the home minister.
“There is no doubt that several powerful people are involved. We have had instances of police officers laughing at the interventions of a few of our members. Are the police only meant to enforce law over the less powerful and leave the powerful and rich to go scotfree,” said Rishi Aggarwal, honourary joint secretary, MSI.
The MSI has now filed an application to MHADA under the Right to Information Act, seeking details about the plot. “We are exploring all possibilities, and if required we will file a Public Interest Litigation,” said Khan.
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