Mumbai: In a bid to save water bodies from destruction at various places, citizens have come forward to persuade authorities to take immediate action against reclamation activities.
In another instance of reclamation of wetlands, a huge pond around the size of five acres located between Sector 19 and Sector 18 of Kharghar, Navi Mumbai has been filled with debris. This pond is also part of a continuous wetland that is connected to the mangroves that grow at the Taloja creek behind Sector 17, 18 and 19. After seeing two-thirds of the pond stuffed with debris, locals and activists intervened and filed a complaint with the wetland grievance redressal committee.
In the backdrop of the reclamation, residents in Kharghar have initiated a massive plantation drive where around 100 saplings will be planted as a demonstration against reclamation of the pond.
The plantation drive will take place at the site on May 27 at 8 am. “We have decided to plant as many as 200 trees in the surrounding area. An official inquiry is already going on, but we also want to put efforts to save the ecosystem of the pond and its surroundings. Around 10 societies will be participating, in this demonstration,” said Kharghar resident Naresh Singh.
