TMC to restore Kopri Wetland in 2 mnths

Mumbai: The Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) has been directed by the Konkan Wetland Redressal Committee (KWRC) to restore mangroves at Kopri within the next two months. A kilometre long stretch of wetland along the Thane Creek near Swami Samartha road in Kopri has been destroyed owing to the dumping of debris and construction materials since years.

The State Government has deemed a part of the Thane Creek as Flamingo Sanctuary, which lies adjacent to the wetland area. Citizens and activists have been raising concerns over the clogging of the wetland area due to the accumulation of debris. Despite the pleas by citizens, the TMC has failed to restore the wetland area citing it as a private land. “During the last meeting of the KWRC, the TMC officials stated that they are unable to restore the land due to lack of funds, however the Konkan commissioner directed that the wetland should be restored in two months time. The restoration process will cost around Rs 60 lakhs to the TMC,” said Jayram Gowda, member secretary of the Wetlands Committee and deputy conservator of forests (mangrove cell).

Rohit Joshi, a Thane based activist raised the issue before the TMC and KWRC in January this year. “We have complained about the debris dumping mafia that has taken over the wetland and mangroves. Yet the TMC has not been able to remove debris from the area. Moreover the builders still continue to dump at the site,” said Rohit Joshi.

“The TMC had also opened a gym in a garden developed by them at the mangrove area at the cost of  Rs 10 lakhs. After subsequent complaints about the illegality of the gym and garden being at a wetland area, it was closed,” added Mr Joshi.

According to the TMC officials, the wetland site is a private land, which hindered the restoration or any kind of intervention by them.