Govt officials busy passing the buck

Even as one of the most dense tracts of mangroves at Yari Road is being systematically destroyed despite regular complaints by environmentalists as well as local residents, government authourities seem to be busy passing the buck.

Much hue and cry was raised by local residents under the umbrella of Yari Road Bachao in November 2015 after which Environment Minister Ramdas Kadam along with Yuva Sena chief Aaditya Thackeray visited the spot following which the BMC Collector’s office began carrying out demolitions of encroachments. Thackeray and Kadam, along with several officials in tow, visited the site a second time to inspect ongoing demolition and were even promised by officials that this land would be cleared.

“No one has bothered since. The encroachments began mushrooming few months after the visit and, in two years, more damage has been done than before. Politicians have stopped answering our calls,” said a local resident.