Fact-finding committee on mangroves dumping submits report

Mumbai, Apr 17 (UNI) The fact-finding committee, appointed to probe allegations levelled by the Bombay Environment Action Group (BEAG) regarding dumping of toxic and hazardous waste in the mangroves at Kanjurmarg and Bandra-Kurla Complex, today submitted its report to the Bombay High Court.

The committee was appointed under directions from Chief Justice K Vyas and Justice D Chandrachud following a public Interest Litigation filed by the BEAG.

The report stated that there was dumping going on in both the areas.

It maybe recalled earlier the court had directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to stop dumping garbage and toxic wastes in the Kanjurmarg and Bandra-Kurla Complex mangroves.

The court was also told that parts of the Kanjurmarg mangroves, which comes under CRZ1, were being used as dumping ground. The sludge from de-silting of the Mithi River, too, was being dumped around the mangroves at Bandra-Kurla Complex behind the MMRDA office, the court was told.

While calling a halt on the dumping, the court had directed that the silt from the Mithi River should be treated and disposed according to the toxic waste disposal guidelines of the Government.

The BEAG had contended that despite court directives last October, rampant destruction of the mangroves was continuing. The petitioner's counsel had also produced in court a submission by Konkan Commissioner that dumping was continuing at the Kanjurmarg mangroves.

The court had asked for demarcation of the dumping ground and Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) of Kanjurmarg following which the state had submitted that 141 hectares were not part of the CRZ and were being used for dumping.

But the petitioner had challenged the contention. The case will come up for hearing on April 19.

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