Mumbai: Authorities turn blind eye as mass debris dumping goes on in mangrove areas

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Mumbai: Since last week, dumping of mass debris is being carried out along the Mahim Causeway coast to Bandra Reclamation. The same activity is also being done under the flyovers of Bandra and the authorities have been caught napping, with no punitive action beng taken against the offenders. Worse still, the officials are not aware of the parties responsible for dumping the mass debris.

City-based activists noticed this for more than five days and made vain attempts to complain to the police and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) disaster management helpline. The debris lays dormant even now at the site which is adjoining to the Mithi River, one of the four natural river bodies of the city.

“No one bats an eyelid over such a grave issue of destroying mangroves by dumping debris. We have been complaining to several officials since September 29, but have received no response,” said Godfrey Pimenta, trustee of Non-Government Organisation (NGO) Watchdog Foundation. He added, the debris can easily load thousand trucks. “This is extremely harmful for the ecological balance,” he said.

Activists inform there was fire witnessed in the coastal belt off Mahim causeway, raising concerns of burning of mangroves. The activists however cannot ascertain if the private party indulging in the excesses are responsible for destruction of these mangroves.
Civic officials, when contacted said,they were not aware of any such activities and they have received no such complaints.