Will take court’s consent to relocate mangrove: MBMC

Mumbai: Stung by the FIRs registered against them last year by the police under sections of the Environment Protection Act, senior officials attached to the sanitation wing of the Mira- Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) are treading with caution before embarking on the pre-monsoon de-silting of creeks which have a large presence of mangroves.

Preparing to approach the court for permission to relocate the mangroves with a view to carrying out de-silting operations effectively, the MBMC will put together a report supported by satellite imagery of the coastal vegetation. There are a total 155 major and minor nullahs in the twin-city that measure up to over 240km.

However, for the past couple of years, the MBMC-appointed contractual companies have been expressing helplessness in cleaning 12 major water bodies, including two major creeks owing to dense mangrove cover. These creeks are crucial outlets that protect from possible floods.

MBMC chief B.G. Pawar inspected major nullahs and creeks on Friday. Deputy civic chief Dr Sambhaji Panpatte, who was among those booked for destroying mangroves during de-silting, said, “Choked with sludge, debris and muck, the creeks pose a serious threat of flooding in low-lying areas, especially during high tide. We are not against the mangroves, but at some spots, their trimming and relocation is inevitable. To ensure minimal damage, we have decided to map them in a digitised way.”