Forest report flags illegal structures at Charkop coastal road

Mumbai: The state forest department's mangrove cell has submitted a formal report to the taluka level administration that three illegal structures have come up within the eco sensitive mangrove buffer zone at Charkop, close to the proposed coastal road exit.

The report, which was submitted on June 11 this year, also confirms mangrove destruction at this site whichfalls within a high court-protected mangrove buffer zone.Earlier, environmentalist Reji Abraham had complained to the Konkan division of mangrove protection cell about illegal debris dumping at the protected mangroves site, besides encroachments and illegal constructions.The Mangrove Cell’s site inspection confirmed that three permanent commercial galas have been constructed at the location. Also, extensive land filling and dumping activities have been carried out, while the site lies within 50 metres of notified mangroves, bringing it under the protection regime established by the Bombay High Court for mangroveconservation."The forest department report has vindicated our stand. Our complaint was about pucca structures constructed by a land mafia operator, involving destruction of the mangrove ecosystem and unauthorized commercial development in an environmentally sensitive zone, due to proximity to charkop coastal road," said Abraham.The official findings have now lent significant weight to concerns that protected coastal land may have been systematically altered for commercial exploitation.

The case assumes greater significance because the disputed location is situated approximately 1 kilometre from the proposed Charkop Coastal Road exit point.Questions arise whether the alleged encroachment and environmental destruction were part of an attempt to exploit the future commercial value of land expected to appreciate sharply due to upcoming coastalinfrastructure projects."Who benefited from the commercial exploitation of protected land? We had earlier also complained to the BMC R-south ward office and the revenue officials, but no action was taken," said Abraham.Mumbai’s mangroves serve as critical flood barriers and ecological safeguards. Any destruction within protected buffer zones directly undermines environmental protection laws and judicial safeguards established by the Bombay High Court.The case is expected to intensify demands for a comprehensive investigation into the role of land mafia networks, regulatory failures and possible attempts to profit from land situated near one of Mumbai’s proposed majorinfrastructure corridors. -- Vijay Singh