3 min
Lockdown Locks up Environmental Care Radio Connect
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- Non-Profit
COVID has impacted our lives in more than one way.
While the government machinery and private endeavours are busy fighting the pandemic, environmental care has taken a backseat.
Under the shadow of COVID-triggered lockdown, massive destruction of wetlands and mangroves has been on in Uran area across Mumbai harbour.
At the same time, environmental protection work has been held up due to COVID itself.
The state-owned urban planner CIDCO is yet to comply with the National Green Tribunal’s order to clear tidal water blocks to Panje Wetland. The wetland, once a destination for over two lakh migratory and local exotic birds, has been forcibly dried out.
On the other side of Panje, along the Dronagiri Coastal Road, Navi Mumbai SEZ has been carrying on landfill on wetland. CIDCO, the local planner, allotted mangrove zones and wetlands for infrastructure projects. This is illegal, say environmentalists.
NGO NatConnect Foundation has requested the Maharashtra Government to quickly intervene and stop this destruction of nature.
The NGO pointed out that it is a paradox that CIDCO could not find time to comply with NGT order to allow free flow of water to Panje Wetland. In fact, the Maharashtra Environment Director had instructed the state government agency and the Raigad District collector way back in November last to clear blocks at Panje wetland.
In fact, the western zonal bench of NGT in its order on April 15, did not find it necessary to hear out CIDCO since the State government’s order to clear the blockage of the five tidal water inlets to Panje wetland, was already in force.
Nandakumar Pawar, head of Shri Ekvira Aai Pratishtan, had moved the NGT as the authorities have failed to immplement the government’s order.
Pawar said Even the Bombay High Court appointed Mangrove and wetlands committee orders to maintain Panje as a wetland have been ignored.
NMSEZ does not have the necessary coastal zone clearances, which is shown in an RTI response from the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority or MCZMA.
Another tragedy is that the government’s own CIDCO is a 26% partner in NMSEZ.
Many mangroves and wetlands under NMSEZ plots have already been buried. The result of this reckless work, say environmentalists, was that several low lying Uran villages had unseasonal floods as gushing high tide water found its own course. Even paddy fields were inundated damaging the crop.
COVID has impacted our lives in more than one way.
While the government machinery and private endeavours are busy fighting the pandemic, environmental care has taken a backseat.
Under the shadow of COVID-triggered lockdown, massive destruction of wetlands and mangroves has been on in Uran area across Mumbai harbour.
At the same time, environmental protection work has been held up due to COVID itself.
The state-owned urban planner CIDCO is yet to comply with the National Green Tribunal’s order to clear tidal water blocks to Panje Wetland. The wetland, once a destination for over two lakh migratory and local exotic birds, has been forcibly dried out.
On the other side of Panje, along the Dronagiri Coastal Road, Navi Mumbai SEZ has been carrying on landfill on wetland. CIDCO, the local planner, allotted mangrove zones and wetlands for infrastructure projects. This is illegal, say environmentalists.
NGO NatConnect Foundation has requested the Maharashtra Government to quickly intervene and stop this destruction of nature.
The NGO pointed out that it is a paradox that CIDCO could not find time to comply with NGT order to allow free flow of water to Panje Wetland. In fact, the Maharashtra Environment Director had instructed the state government agency and the Raigad District collector way back in November last to clear blocks at Panje wetland.
In fact, the western zonal bench of NGT in its order on April 15, did not find it necessary to hear out CIDCO since the State government’s order to clear the blockage of the five tidal water inlets to Panje wetland, was already in force.
Nandakumar Pawar, head of Shri Ekvira Aai Pratishtan, had moved the NGT as the authorities have failed to immplement the government’s order.
Pawar said Even the Bombay High Court appointed Mangrove and wetlands committee orders to maintain Panje as a wetland have been ignored.
NMSEZ does not have the necessary coastal zone clearances, which is shown in an RTI response from the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority or MCZMA.
Another tragedy is that the government’s own CIDCO is a 26% partner in NMSEZ.
Many mangroves and wetlands under NMSEZ plots have already been buried. The result of this reckless work, say environmentalists, was that several low lying Uran villages had unseasonal floods as gushing high tide water found its own course. Even paddy fields were inundated damaging the crop.
3 min