Pollution board inspects Charkop mangroves

The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) conducted an inspection of the Charkop mangrove site on Thursday.

This comes after the Hindustan Times published a report on February 29 on how illegal encroachments, reclamation and bonfires were threatening 138 acres of mangroves in Sector 8, Kandivli (East), along the Manori creek. "We read the newspaper report and thought that it would be appropriate to inspect the site since bonfires were also reported in the mangroves. We have photographic evidence of the spots where mangroves were burnt. The inspection report will be sent to out the head office," said JB Sangewar, regional officer, MPCB

"We saw that the mangroves were clearly burnt at some places and land was reclaimed and encroached upon," said Pramod Doke, field officer, MPCB.

Citizen activists had complained to the Charkop police and the civic body about blockage of seawater by construction of bund walls and land reclamation, which is posing a danger to the mangrove ecosystem. Construction of bund walls prevents creek water from entering the mangroves.

The Charkop mangroves are also host to migratory birds such as flamingos, egrets and storks.

"MPCB officials requested me to help them in identifying the spots where fires were lit. Last Friday, I had seen the mangroves on fire and informed the fire brigade," said Mili Shetty, whose flat in Sai Siddhi building faces the mangrove stretch.