03/05/2011 page 3 Coastal body snubs mangrove crusaders

Passes An Order Without Consulting The Greens

TIMES NEWS NETWORK Mumbai: Environmentalists who had come to place their grievances before the Coastal Zone Management Authority (CZMA) last week were in for a rude shock. Not only were they not given a hearing, but were also told that a decision has already been taken based on the collectors report. The CZMA had asked members of the Bombay Environmental Action Group (BEAG), who had complained about the destruction of mangroves at Mandwa in Alibaug, to come to Mantralaya for a hearing on Thursday. After waiting for three and a half hours, we were told the meeting was over. We forced our way into the CZMA meeting room and were informed that the issue had been discussed based on the Raigad collectors report, which said that there was no construction at the site, said Navroz Modi, vice-presidentof theBEAG. Pointing out that the closure of thesluice gate atthe mouthof theinletwas preventing theflow of seawater intothe mangroves, the BEAG members produced photographs showing the construction of a 6-metre wide and 300-ftlong elevatedbund roadinto the wetlands. The photographs also showed five large container cabins in the midst of the mangroves. The BEAG has complained that a leading Mumbai developer is planning toconstruct villas in thewetlands. Valsa Nair-Singh, chairperson of the CZMA, said, I had asked for a report after the BEAG members claimed that construction was being carried out in the area and villas were being sold. As the collectors report said no construction was being carried out, a fact that even the BEAG has accepted, I did not givethem a hearing. TheBEAG,shesaid,has now brought to the CZMAs notice that a road has been built and barrels are being brought. I have asked for more information from the collector and will ensurethattheBEAGisheard, shesaid. Meanwhile, the BEAG has complained to the Union ministry of environment and forests thatthecollectorsofficedelayed the report by four months. The group has asked the ministry to send a fact-finding team to ascertain the extent of wetland destruction in Mandwa.