Navi Mumbai SEZ authorities accused of violating HC order

Mumbai, Jun 18 (UNI) Taking strong note of the Bombay Environmental Action Group's (BEAGs) complaint and report by Uran Tehsildar to the City Industrial and Development Corporation of Maharashtra (CIDCO), the Corporation has asked the Navi Mumbai SEZ authorities to immediately stop the land-filling work at Dronagiri as it violates the High Court ruling on mangroves.

In a letter dated June 13 this year and addressed to NMSEZ authorities, CIDCO General Manager (SEZ) said: ''The Tehsildar Uraan by his letter dated May 19 has informed CIDCO that work of land filling at Dronagiri is being carried out in the area near Uraan handed over by the Corporation to the company, which is resulting in the destruction of mangroves.'' A BEAG team, which visited the site on June 4, had also observed that large-scale dumping and reclamation of mangroves had taken place at Phunde Dongri, Kala Dhonda and Gori Pakhadi areas.

Consequently, the BEAG sent a complaint to the Corporation on June 6, drawing its attention towards the issue.

Even CIDCO Executive Engineer (Dronagiri) is said to have reported that some earth filling work is going on, which according to the CIDCO authorities, amounts to the violations of the Bombay High Court Orders of October 6, 2005.

The High Court in its order had directed the State government that ''there shall be a total freeze on the destruction and cutting of mangroves in the entire State of Maharashtra.

The Court orders also directed that all construction and rouble/garbage dumping on the mangrove areas shall be stopped forthwith. Further, the Court had instructed that regardless of the ownership of land, all construction taking place within 50 meters on all size of mangroves shall be forthwith stopped.

At the same time, the Court order also directed the State authorities that no development permission whatsoever shall be issued by any authority in the State of Maharashtra in respect of an area under the mangroves.

''In the event, if the company has not ordered any work, then you are hereby called upon to stop the earth filling work in progress, immediately, since the land is in your possession and you are required to protect the same as also responsible to ensure that no unauthorised work is carried out in the area in your possession,'' the CIDCO communication to NMSEZ authorities stated.

The authorities have also asked the NMSEZ to depute a team for inspection of the site and submit its detailed report to it immediately.

UNI