2,000 illegal huts on mangrove land removed in two months

Mumbai: Over a period of two months, the Maharashtra government removed around 2,000 illegal huts for encroaching the mangrove land in the Mumbai region. The encroachments were spread on a four-acre mangrove land at Chembur, and the neighbouring areas had small huts and houses built on it. These encroachments were a major problem for the mangrove land, and as soon as the officials received permission to remove them, they started the drive. N. Vasudevan, additional principal chief conservator of forest said, “Due to the increasing population and demand for more and more houses, people constantly try to encroach the mangrove lands. To curb these illegal encroachments, the forest department has taken steps, and soon these problems will be resolved.”

N. Vasudevan added, “This drive was slated to begin in September last year, but on humanitarian grounds, we provided them time and started the drive in the month of March with the help of police and civic officials.”

The government has also sanctioned Rs 2 crore for fencing the area near Chembur where the drive took place. The fencing will be put in place to avoid any further encroachments on that land.

The eviction drive that was slated for September was delayed twice because of the monsoon and shortage of the staff. Despite the Coastal Regulation Zone law coming into effect in 1991, there have been several incidents of gross violations.