Rules still being flouted on Palm Beach road mangroves

Mumbai: Ten days after Navi Mumbai mayor came under a cloud for entering restricted mangrove land on Palm Beach road, movement of people and vehicles continues in the area, that too in broad daylight, as per latest pictures clicked by residents. Activists allege that the area is not looked after, thereby making it a haven for illegal activities. Short-staffed as it is, the state mangrove cell assures it will take action against vehicles entering the vicinity but admits that restricting individuals is a tough job.

According to locals, the mangrove land has not only become the new picnic and lovers’ spot but is also easily accessible to any person who wants to consume alcohol. According to the mangrove cell, mangrove forests cover 1,471 hectare of government-owned land in Navi Mumbai and are protected by law with the Bombay high court having banned both their destruction across the state and any construction within 50 metre of them following a public interest litigation (PIL) by Bombay Environment Action Group, Mumbai, in 2005.

N. Vasudevan, chief conservator of forests, statemangrove cell, said, “There are fishermen who enter the area for fishing hence we are not able to stop them. We will however take action and restrict movement of vehicles in this area.”

Sources said that the state mangrove cell is so short-staffed that there is only one guard who looks after 1,471 hectare of mangrove forests. Further, the cell has only a hundred employees for tackling issues on and off the field. “This makes it difficult to keep an eye on each and every point of access to the mangrove land on Palm Beach road,” said a source.

However, Pawan Sharma, who wrote to the principal chief conservator of forests, reporting an incident on Mahashivaratri when a temporary structure was built (against CRZ rules) with the mayor of Navi Mumbai in attendance, said, “There has been absolutely no response from the cell till date. In the letter, I had clearly expressed to extend my support to the cell if needed. If the cell is short-staffed, I am sure volunteers will always be there to support.”