Mangrove Wetland Centre to come up at Navi Mumbai

Mumbai, Sep 20 (UNI) For conservation and protection of khar land forests, the Maharashtra government along with CIDCO and a city-based social organisation will set up a Mangrove Wetland Centre in Navi Mumbai.

A tripartite agreement between Forest Department, City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) and Conservation Action Trust (CAT) was signed in the presence of Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh here yesterday.

The centre will be set up on 289 hectare area spread across Nerul, Sarsole and Sonkhed in Navi Mumbai. Salt pan and marshy land will be developed mainly in a scientific manner. For this, CAT has come forward. This Committee will do it in co-operation of Forests Department and CIDCO. Precaution will be taken up while setting up this Centre that environment is not harmed. The Centre will have education and research facilities, an official release said here today.

The project will be completed in three phases. First phase is of planning under which MoU was signed. It will be completed within a year. In second phase, necessary construction work will be carried out. In the third and final phase, project will be implemented.

Salt pan land necessary for the project will be provided by the Forest Department. Training will be given to forest guards and other employees.

CIDCO will provide 3-5,000 sq meter land for construction and other related works. For first phase, assistance of Rs 87 lakh will be given. The project will take shape with the co-operation of people. Under the project, efforts will be put to increase variety of flowers. Locals will be convinced about the importance of salt pan land and will be provided with employment. For implementation of project, all necessary permission will be sought from Centre.

For giving impetus and monitoring the project, a Project Steering Committee under the Chairmanship of Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, CIDCO will be set up. A project management unit also will be set up, the release added.

UNI JM SSS NP2218