Vast tracts of lands are being gradually cleared and encroached upon by slum mafia at Bhagat Singh Nagar, close to Goregaon bus depot on the Link road
Residents from Oshiwara have raised an alarm against the blatant destruction of mangroves, close to the creek. They have also alleged that vast tracts of lands are being gradually cleared and encroached upon by slum mafia at Bhagat Singh Nagar, close to Goregaon bus depot on the Link road.
Dhaval Shah, a local resident and Chairman of Lokhandwala Oshiwara Citizens' Association (LOCA) said that he received complaints from local residents about mangroves located in the area behind Mega Mall in Oshiwara being systematically burnt and destroyed.
"We saw that debris was being dumped very close to the creek and mangroves were being set on fire. In fact, if one looks closely, a portion of mangroves has already been separated by the dumping of debris and fires are being set to the mangroves so that this tract can be completely wiped off and the land be taken over by encroachments," he said.
Shah informed that LOCA sent complaints to both, Mumbai Suburban Collector and the Mangrove Cell, on December 26. "We have also sent videos of how fires were being set up and have urged officials to take cognisance and initiate action so that the remaining mangroves could be saved from vanishing," he said.
A local resident who did not wish to be named said that he was witnessing small tempos full of debris visiting the area close to the creek and dumping debris daily. "The entire mangroves have been wiped out in the last one year and we are sure that by next year the encroachments would reach up to the creek. Unfortunately, this blatant violation is being carried out at Bhagat Singh Nagar, which is being completely overlooked by elected representatives as well as the authorities such as the Mangrove Cell, BMC and the Collector despite regular complaints," said the resident.
The Bhagat Singh Nagar slums have expanded over a period of time. They have come very close to the creek and a very small portion of mangroves is now left. "It's time for the Mangrove Cell to demolish the illegal slums and if possible build a wall to ensure that mangroves along the creek can be rejuvenated,' said another resident.
Meanwhile, officials from the mangrove Cell promised to look into the matter raised by the residents' organisation.
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