The Koparkhairane mangrove zone has become the latest spot for debris dumping, killing the greens, say residents.
The newly formed mangrove preservation committee, headed by the Konkan divisional commissioner, is clueless about the illegal activities. In the maiden meeting of the committee, a suggestion to instal CCTV cameras at debris dumping spots was put forth.
On Friday, a portion of mangroves was damaged due to a fire. When contacted Koparkhairane ward officer Balkrishna Patil said he was unaware of such incidents under his jurisdiction and promised to send officials to take stock of the situation.
According Dheeraj Gude, a resident, “Roadside vendors used to dump the waste here on regular basis. The waste came in contact with cigarette butts and match sticks used by the people attending nature’s call on the open ground that engulfed a portion of thick mangroves on Wednesday afternoon.” However, onlookers rushed to douse the fire thereby saving a major part of the mangroves from being destroyed.
The perpetrators of the fire are at large. The dumping and fire took place just a stone’s throw away from the local ward office.
Civic officials have been claiming that two anti-debris dumping squads are on 24 hours surveillance duty to protect the mangroves. Activist Santosh Patil said, “At least 10 truckloads of debris have been dumped here under the cover of darkness during this ongoing festival holidays. The officials concerned are least bothered of the activities of such miscreants. The debris mafia is active in this area.”
Ankush Chavan, additional civic commissioner and a member of the newly formed Mangrove Preservation Committee, said, “Our anti-debris dumping squads have been instructed to beef up vigilance and crack the whip more frequently on debris mafia along this stretch which has not been listed as an illegal dumping spot. We will also probe the cause of the fire by officals at the local ward office level.”