Mumbai : The state Mangrove Cell is planning to begin an eviction drive of 1000-plus houses that have encroached on notified mangroves in areas such as Colaba, Saidham Nagar in Parel, Chikoowadi in Borivali and Shankarwadi in Jogeshwari areas of Mumbai. The drive is expected to begin in October, after the monsoon withdraws from the city.
The cell is also planning to construct compound walls and install CCTV cameras in areas wherever there is a possibility of reoccurrence of encroachment into notified mangroves.
“The construction of compound wall will be deterrent against construction of houses and other buildings,” said N Vasudevan, chief conservator of forests, Maharashtra. “We will be constructing compound walls on vulnerable areas consider-ing our past and present experience of encroachments. Since mangroves tend to be isolated and lonely areas, it is easier for people to encroach into these areas. The CCTV cameras would be installed to monitor encroachments in these areas.” Earlier, the mangrove cell had demolished 4,000 such encroachments. These buildings were demolished in 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 after the monsoon came to an end, Vasudevan said.
The Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms came into effect in 1991 mandating restoration of mangroves to pre-1991 status. However, there have been incidents of violations and the Bombay High Court in 2005 had issued directives for avoiding further violation of Environment Protection Act, 1986, he said.
